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Hepatitis B (HBc) Positive - Please help
To those with answers:
About 6 months ago I donated blood at a blood drive and got my results online and everything was perfectly fine. I receive a little reminder card in the mail of the next blood drive a few weeks after that. So I decided to go to the blood drive and donate for a second time on January 16, 2010, this time my girlfriend tagged along and she also donated. Today, February 5, 2010 I received a letter in the mail stating that I am reactive (positive) for antibodies to Anti-HBc but negative for all of the other tests they ran on my blood. But my girlfriend received no such letter as her tests were all fine. I have been with my girlfriend for 2 years now and we don't use condoms when we're intimate and I've never been with anyone else other than her. The letter suggests that I do not alter my lifestyle in any way other than to not donate blood again unless it was medically necessary for my own use. I'm getting worried now because I don't know what to do. My question is: How could I have been affected by the virus since my girlfriend is not affected and I have not been with anyone else besides her? What steps should I take towards this virus? I’m not sure if I ever got vaccinated but would the vaccine be effective if I get it now?
Thank you so much for your help
About 6 months ago I donated blood at a blood drive and got my results online and everything was perfectly fine. I receive a little reminder card in the mail of the next blood drive a few weeks after that. So I decided to go to the blood drive and donate for a second time on January 16, 2010, this time my girlfriend tagged along and she also donated. Today, February 5, 2010 I received a letter in the mail stating that I am reactive (positive) for antibodies to Anti-HBc but negative for all of the other tests they ran on my blood. But my girlfriend received no such letter as her tests were all fine. I have been with my girlfriend for 2 years now and we don't use condoms when we're intimate and I've never been with anyone else other than her. The letter suggests that I do not alter my lifestyle in any way other than to not donate blood again unless it was medically necessary for my own use. I'm getting worried now because I don't know what to do. My question is: How could I have been affected by the virus since my girlfriend is not affected and I have not been with anyone else besides her? What steps should I take towards this virus? I’m not sure if I ever got vaccinated but would the vaccine be effective if I get it now?
Thank you so much for your help
true.
90-95% people completely recover from hep b, their immune systems get rid of all the virus in the body, and they become immune to it for the rest of their lives.
Do the full panel test and if it comes out it:
HBsAg- HBsAb+ HBcAb+/-
**Not Infected - Immune**
- You have had a previous hepatitis B infection.
- You have recovered and you no longer have hepatitis B.
- You cannot pass the virus on to others.
- OR, you have been successfully vaccinated and are protected against hepatitis B.
*check for anti-hbs (hep b surface antibodies) - if its above 10 miu/ml then you are Immune.
good luck
90-95% people completely recover from hep b, their immune systems get rid of all the virus in the body, and they become immune to it for the rest of their lives.
Do the full panel test and if it comes out it:
HBsAg- HBsAb+ HBcAb+/-
**Not Infected - Immune**
- You have had a previous hepatitis B infection.
- You have recovered and you no longer have hepatitis B.
- You cannot pass the virus on to others.
- OR, you have been successfully vaccinated and are protected against hepatitis B.
*check for anti-hbs (hep b surface antibodies) - if its above 10 miu/ml then you are Immune.
good luck
Oh I'm very sorry but I didn't see the part about donating 6 months prior.
Well three scenarios I can think of:
1)Your girlfriend has immunity through vaccination.
2)You developed antibodies very quickly and had a very low virus level during this time, in which your girlfriend got lucky and didn't get infected.
3)It is possible that your girlfriend got infected recently but it hasn't been detected yet. People vary on how long it takes to test positive for Hep B.
I think you and girlfriend should get a full panel test done.
Well three scenarios I can think of:
1)Your girlfriend has immunity through vaccination.
2)You developed antibodies very quickly and had a very low virus level during this time, in which your girlfriend got lucky and didn't get infected.
3)It is possible that your girlfriend got infected recently but it hasn't been detected yet. People vary on how long it takes to test positive for Hep B.
I think you and girlfriend should get a full panel test done.
You most likely have had a prior hep b infection. I would go to the doctor for a full panel test for Hep B.
You been with your girlfriend for two years and wonder why she doesn't have it. Well most likely you had an infection before the relationship began. One does not get Hep B just from sex. There are many other ways people can get infected. Also many do not even have symptoms when infected.
Vaccine will be no help to you now since you have been already infected. You either have the surface antibodies or you don't by now. Either way vaccine is of no use.
However, I'm pretty sure that you have the anti hbs to it because the blood bank didn't say otherwise and since your girlfriend isn't infected. If you have the anti hbs, which again is most likely in your case, you have immunity and don't have to worry about infecting others.
You been with your girlfriend for two years and wonder why she doesn't have it. Well most likely you had an infection before the relationship began. One does not get Hep B just from sex. There are many other ways people can get infected. Also many do not even have symptoms when infected.
Vaccine will be no help to you now since you have been already infected. You either have the surface antibodies or you don't by now. Either way vaccine is of no use.
However, I'm pretty sure that you have the anti hbs to it because the blood bank didn't say otherwise and since your girlfriend isn't infected. If you have the anti hbs, which again is most likely in your case, you have immunity and don't have to worry about infecting others.
Yes I think so too, you might be immune to HBV due to a prior infection. Which anti HBC antibodies did they find to be reactive? IgG or IgM? If you dont have the anti HBS antibodies you better get vaccinated for future protection.
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