Hepatitis B testing or not?

[HepWorried]

Hi to all.I would like to ask you if pcr dna test would be suitable for exclude hbv 14 weeks after possible exposure.I have read in some threads that If the virus is still in the liver it may not be detectable by the pcr test becaouse it has not start to replicate yet.Is that true or did I missunderstund? Thank you for your feedback.

[HepWorried]

Yes but if I can stop this or a feature infection from spreading by getting a fresh vaccine it surely beats the 98% of clearing the virus.Eitherway your information was really helpfull!

[stef2011]

you are protected anyway, adults have competent immune system and clear hbv in almost 98% cases, it is only at birth or very young that you can get chronic infection

[HepWorried]

So if even the vaccine didnt work properly making 10miu/ml I am propably still be protected.thats good news! I even got a booster dose 10 years ago, so I may be in the safe side.For what I understand I may check for anti-hbs to see if the vaccine ever worked,for hbsab to see if I have immunity,and for hbsag to see if I have an active infection.Thank you so much for the information..Take care!

[stef2011]

in this case just test hbsab, even if it is little less than 10miu/ml you are protected anyway if you had vaccine in the past

[HepWorried]

I have been vaccined as a child but...back at those days they didnt check up for immunity after the vaccine,so I dont really know if i ever produced antibodies to the virus.Do you believe that its best to test for anti-hbs first or get a fresh vaccine anyway? I am sorry for the reapiting questions but here where I live we dont have a service that I can call to ask for these information.

[stef2011]

just have hbv vaccine and test for immunity hbsab>10miu/ml.hbv is harmless on adults in any case so just test for the antibodies after you got the vaccine.

[HepWorried]

Oh and one more...if I am indeed infected,but still hbsag negative,if i get a vaccine while stil negative...would that prevent the infection from spreading?

[HepWorried]

So testing for hbsag is the golden rule? Do you think that 2-3 months is enought time to have a conclusive resault? Cdc says 2 months,in my country they say 3 months is the right time to test,wich one is it?

[stef2011]

hbv dna pcr is totally useless, even us chronic carriers from birth can have it undetected for many years with nothing to do with the infection

[Rome70]

Two month after infection hbsAg should be there. If you think you were exposed you had better get vaccinated and monitor antibodies it may help.

[HepWorried]

So pcr its not going to be usefull if the virus is still in the incubination period correct? Can you tell me when is the best time to have a defenitive hbsag test?

[Rome70]

The only test to exclude hbv is hbsag.