My Hepatitis B results are different now? Can someone help? PLEASE!

In 1999, I donated blood. I got a letter saying that I was positive for the Hepatitis B core antibody. I followed up with my doctor, and my results were..

Hepatitis B Core Tot Ab   POSITIVE
HBs Antigen w/Reflex      NEGATIVE
Hepatitis B Surf AB       NOT IMMUNE


Didn't test again till a few days ago.


Im still waiting for some results to come back, but Hepatitis, A, and C are both negative.

Hepatitis B Core Antibody is now NEGATIVE my doctor told me. But back in 1999, it was Positive!????? Is that normal to have it change to negative???? What does that mean!?

I am still waiting on the Hepatitis B surface antigen. That should be back tomorrow.

What do the change in results mean?

He did a liver panel, and all my liver functions were COMPLETELY normal. Not even one number out of range!!!


I had a baby 3 years ago. I don't think they tested me while I was pregnant. Could I have passed Hepatitis B on to her!???  :( :( :( :(

Im scared so bad Im shaking.

Please give me some insight if possible.

THANKS!

[jboyhk]

I would guess the first was some sort of false positive. You did test negative for S antigen on that test.

[jboyhk]

First of all there is no reason to be scared and shaking. Its a very slow moving disease and the common saying is that you will most likely die with it than from it.

Have a look at this CDC website for good info on blood test results.

http://www.cdc.gov/Ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/b/faqb.htm

Page down near the bottom.

My understanding is that once you rest positive for anti-HBc you should always remain positive. Your first case result, according to this website, has 4 possible interpretations


Might be recovering from acute HBV infection
.
Might be distantly immune and test not sensitive enough to detect very low level of anti-HBs in serum.

Might be susceptible with a false positive anti-HBc.

Might be undetectable level of HBsAg present in the serum and the person is actually chronically infected


So, if you are now negative anti-HBc you might have had 2 false positives in 1999

[husker1992]

A false positive on the one in 99'???

I could believe that, but I had the positive core antibody show up on the donated blood.....and then also on the lab I had at the doctors office just a week after that.

could they both have been false positives?????

[Jakied]

go to 'the body' and send an email to Dr Barb McGovern(ask the experts tab).

in the hepatitis and Hiv coinfection section.  She is wonderful and will answer your q.

[husker1992]

I am "scared and shaking" because as I MENTIONED.......


I had a baby 3 years ago. Nothing was said about Hepatitis B. So if I have it chronicly, Im worried I passed it to my baby. THAT is why Im scared. Me alone having it, worries me....but I know enough about the disease that it can be manageable. But I couldn't deal with it if I thought I had given it to my child.

[jr900]

All pregnant women are tested for Hep B during pregnancy.  I just found out that my husband is chronically infected so I was worried too but I was tested 8 yrs ago and 5 yrs ago during pregnancy and was neg.  Also, all infants are immunized after birth further decreasing risk.  Hope this helps!

[husker1992]

Thank you for that!!!! I do feel relieved. I didn't realize ALL pregnant women were tested? I figured it was just if you had a strong history of Hep B.


My other test came back....the Hep B Surface Antigen.....it is NEGATIVE.

so

Core antibodies......NEGATIVE
Surface Antigen......NEGATIVE.

I think thats all they tested...don't know about surface antibodies.

I don't understand how I can go from what I tested in 99'.....to where Im at now.

Im happy, don't get me wrong......!!!


Just can't understand it!