Hbc with Hbs Ab both present???

[finding2010]

I am a healthcare related worker. Could have been exposed through a needlestick injury at work  3 yrs ago.  I was vaccinated 4 yrs ago (0,1,6) and also took a booster-shot 1.5 yrs ago although until date did not check antibody titers. Did a fresh reporting,

hbs ag .01 [< .05 non reactive]
hbs ab  370 mIU/ml
hbc core total ab .86 (< 1.00 reactive)

This set of condition  is usually associated with someone who has recovered from a previous infection. But my profile should be one who is vaccinated, the presence of the core ab is baffling. Can it be a false +ve considering the value of .86 is close to the threshold.

.

[finding2010]

No unfortunately, I didn't get hbs ab titers checked that time. Theoretically, it seems it is possible that the vaccination failed, and i acquired an infection but my body was  able to resolve it.

However, the core ab index for people who are actually infected i.e.  hbs ag positive is very much on the lower side like 0.005-7 [with same lab baseline index], so I still think mine .86 could be a false positive

[genx7]

well if you were vaccinated 4 years ago you couldn't have been infected from the needlestick injury from 3 years ago.  After the vaccination 4 years ago did you get a final test done to see if it worked?  Were your anti hb titre checked?

[cajim]

You are fine and immune now regardless if you were previously exposed to HBV.