Need some interpretation help. A Doctor's help maybe?

[mark6247]

The following is my test history from diagnosis to today. I am puzzled by these results and I fear there could be errors on the part of LabCorp. I have no insurance and I'm unemployed so I am not under the care of a physician. I simply cannot afford it. I hope there is a doctor here that will help me.

The June labs were done via hospital stay. After June the labs were ordered through Prepaidlabs.com and they will not help.

Test Date: June 09

Test                      Result              
HBsAB                  4.94                 Reference (0.00 - 0.99) where >.99 is consistent with immunity.
HBsAG                 Positive            
HBcAB Total        Positive            
HBcAB IGM         Positive            
HBeAG                 Positive            
HBVDNA              66600000 copies/m
Albumin                3.6
Bilirubin Total       11.7
Alk Phos              135
ALT/SPGT           2147
AST/SGOT          1134

After these tests I only watched liver functions until Sept 09, which trended down to normal ranges.

Sept. 09

Test                       Result
HBsAB                   .50                 Reference (0.00 - 0.99) where >.99 is consistent with immunity.
HBsAG                  Positive
HBcAB                  Positive

Dec 09

Test                      Result
HBsAB                  .99 is consistent with immunity.
HBsAG                 Negative
HBeAB                 Positive
HBeAG                 Negative
Albumin                4.5
Bilirubin Total       0.4
Alk Phos               62
ALK/SGPT           29
AST/SGOT          23

I have done a lot of research and I understand how to read these results. The problem is that these results are not your average outcome. I feel like I have beaten the virus but I just don't understand the surface antibody results. I fear that LabCorp. has made mistakes. Those initial tests caused the hospital doctors to say I didn't have hep b and so they kept me for about an additional $10K in testing, all negative. In the end an intern coming back from vacation made the diagnosis of hep b and played a role in my release. It is those hospital charges that keep me from being able to see a doctor now. I'm very close to bankruptcy. Please help me. What should I do next? I tried to talk to LabCorp but they are prohibited by law from talking to any patient.

Thank you!

[bberry]

no you dont have anything to worry bout.

all these numbers are now irrelevant

enjoy your health

[mark6247]

Thanks! I just talked with a counselor at Hep B Foundation and they said the same thing. They seem to think that I have nothing more to worry about.

Yay....I'm immune! I kinda feel like I just got out of jail.

I sincerely hope the best to all that are battling this horrible virus! Stay strong!

Thanks again!

[stef2011]

now you are immune that's what matters, alt/ast very high means your immune system was killing all infected cells producing the virus so you had a strong immune response, all antibodies can have high and low picks during acute hep so everything is right

if hbvdna is und, hbs ab positive, normal alt/ast you are really ok.if you just can't afford doctor or expensive lab tests just check ast/alt

[mark6247]

I decided to get re-tested. The last two tests for antigens have said "screen" and the first two said "confirmation". It there a difference in HBsAg tests?

This time I did a profile which is what most do to screen for the first look. It was less expensive.

It included HBsAg screen, HBsAb (titer), and HBsAb Igm.

HBsAb was less than 0.1 (inconsistent with immunity)
HBsAg screen was negative
HBsAb, Igm was positive

It seems my body not only rid itself of surface antigens but has also been eliminating surface antibodies. Down from 4.94 to less than 0.1.

I still have some mild symptoms and this coupled with the strange disappearing antibodies has me a little worried.

[mark6247]

Thanks for the reply.

In your opinion, why do these labs show me starting out with antibodies at 4.94, then .5, and then the latest test at <0.1 ?

It should not be possible to end this battle with less surface antibodies than I started with. Is this possible? Doesn't it indicate that errors exist? LabCorp doesn't have the greatest record when it comes to accuracy.

[bberry]

june results indicates u had an ACUTE case of hepB,
the trend going down is an indication your body was fighting the virus.
last lap shows you did fight it and succeeded.

u dont have hbv. u cleared it

good luck

[mark6247]

For some reason it just won't post it the way I typed it.

The Result for Dec 09 HBsAB is <0.1

[mark6247]

The post messed up for the Dec 09 results on the surface antibodies. Should read...

Dec 09

Test                      Result
HBsAB                  .099 is consistent with immunity.