HEP B rapid test !!! Plz help

[am_iriskfree]

Hi All,
       I had been sexually active last year with the prostitutes(protected sex and kissing).
       This sunday(almost 170 days after last exposure) i tested for HEP B . They used a rapid test(strip) which came back negative.

      Now i read about other tests which test for HBc antibody.
     My question is that do i need to test for  HBc antibody?? or i m conclusively negative??.

I read a doc of CDC which says that if HBc is postive then one may have chronic HBV despite the negative HbsaG.How lileky is this sitaution in my case .I had viral fever recently which lasted three days.

PLease help me out .


Thanks
      

[stevenNYer]

HBc just indicates infection (past or present).  You can't determine if your are presently infected by just looking at the HBc.  Ask your doctor to run the full panel, icluding the minimum HBsAB, HBsAG to get a clearer picture. Why take chances guessing.

[stevenNYer]

...But if your HBsAG and HBc are both negative then that means you don't have HepB.

And if your HBsAB (antibodies) is positive, then you are immuned.  If negative, get vaccinated so you don't have to worry in the future.

[Jakied]

I believe the hep b test looks for the surface antigen and the core antigen which is probably what you are referring to.

Hep C is not easily transmitted through sex.  Hep B is.  Also, have you tested for Hiv?

[am_iriskfree]

It was a rapid test .My report reads Autralian antigen test.
i dont know if it includes the core antibody .
If someone knows about it ..please help me out .
Yes i have tested out negative for hiv at 5 and a 1/2 months.