Hbsag quant test will become available in the US on 12/05/16

[itac]

Quantitative measurement of HBsAg may be used to confirm ongoing HBV replication and monitor responses to antiviral therapy. Published studies support the viewpoint that repeatedly low to undetectable HBsAg values are a good predictor of sustained viral clearance.

More Info:

http://robertgish.com/so/eLYISTK8/click?w=LS0tDQplZjRjZjA0Ny1jOTQyLTRmMjctM2YzMS00ZGM2Nzg3NGE2YzMNCmh0dHBzOi8vanVtcHNoYXJlLmNvbS92L0QxNFM5UkJFekZzSk5pUDl3WDVYDQotLS0

It will be available at Quest Diagnostics lab under the name:
Hepatitis b surface antigen quantitative monitoring
Test code: 943333

Good news, no need to go to Europe anymore.

[Royal36]

Does Quest accept tests with no Dr referals ?

[Airquake]

Royal36, I had similar problem with getting a prescription for the blood test. I reached out to other doctors and they were more than willing to write it for me. My first experience was definitely disappointing but go somewhere else. Go even to the urgent care, I have plenty of that in my area. You should not have this problem. I think some GI's don't know what to do with it so they are hesitant to do it. I did my test yesterday and should have the results on Wednesday which is quicker than LabCorp. Once I get the results I will post them. I'm very curious not only for the sag value but for a different lab as well.

[Royal36]

So sad my GI couldn't figure out the difference b/n Hbvdna quant and Hbsag quant. I asked her to order for me Hbsag quant and she said " we always do for you the quantitative test and it is under control" asked her again not the hbvdna quant i need the Hbsag quant...kkk but no help i don't know if she trying to confuse me purposely.

[itac]

I already got my first
hbsag quant test result in the US yesterday. Was a little difficult to obtain the result, as the lab quest focus a subsidiary of quest who performs the test told me they already completed the test and faxed it to quest, but quest still would see it as pending. There lots of incompetent workers at quest who won't listen when you tell them the test is complete already, but what matters at the end that I was able to find one righteous person in Sodom (quest) to personally get quest focus to fax her the results and she would personally fax it to my doctor office. This after hours spent trying to obtain the result from quest/my doctor office/quest focus - really bad customer service. So eventually I got the result before Christmas :) The result by itself wasn't so bad, as the tendency of log 1 reduction vanished and it actually went up in more than 2000 ui/ml (which is very similar to what I have with my hbv dna ui/ml - I just hope they really got the hbsag quant test and not hbv dna test as I don't think these values have to be correlated).

[itac]

*The result by itself wasn't so good

[mike9111]

I talked to my nurse who worked under prof Lok and I was surprised that she told me their lab also do this test as out of lab test and she put an order for me to do it at the hospital lab. I will do it in march with all my other tests and hope that my result will be low same as the one I used to get in Germany.

[itac]

Yea good luck, I hope you get a consistent result to what you had in Germany unlike mine.

[Airquake]

Yesterday I went to my primary care physician. He order all tests that I wanted! I'll the test done in early Janunary. I will keep you posted.

[Bm2016]

Even my doc don't want to do quantitative on HBV surface antibody, stating in their medically theory, once HBV surface anti body is reactive, the Hbsab level is insignificant.

[Airquake]

I went to see my hep doctor yesterday but somebody else was filling in for her that day. When I asked about that test she refused to do it. She said it is not medically required. So, I hope to see other docs soon to get it. Dissapointing!

[mike9111]

I have seen doctors before use this term and refuse to do it. The reason behind that I believe insurance don't like to do uneccessary tests in their opinion. So doctors push hard on it.

[mike9111]

I sent a message to professor Lok asking her about the test. I hope they offer it at the hospital lab so I don't have to go to quest lab

[itac]

My specialist gi doc just ordered the test for me, it's covered by my insurance. Funny thing they did the hbs antibody quantity test instead of hbsag quant test, but they already working on the new test using my blood reserve so should be ready by the end of the week.

[Royal36]

How much does it costs ? Do we still need a referal from our physcians ? Thanks!

[Airquake]

Update: test code at Quest is 94333X

[itac]

Guys, do you know if quest use abbot machine or Roche? I think I recall it was abott but would be nice if someone could confirm. I rather it be abbot to consistent with my test results from Europe. Thanks!

[Airquake]

By the way, I'm seeing my doctor next week and probably do the tests early January. I will keep you posted.

[Airquake]

Are you sure the proper test was selected? It's possible that it was incorrectly entered. Qualitative will give you pos/neg; quantitative should give you a number.

[mer971]

Yes, only qualitative showing, as usually. I told doctor that is available(he didn't know it) so he ordered it. I went directly to Quest lab with my papers in hands. It means, no one is aware of that test. Better to wait one or two months more

[mer971]

I took my results back from quests laboratory, and still quantitative not available, showing only positive, reactive

[mer971]

I mean for HBS antigen

[itac]

That's only in NY right? In California it should be available already, I'll call Quest tomorrow to confirm. But isn't it weird if you paid for quantitive and got qualitative result instead? I would call their customer service to complain you were mislead and ripped off.

[mer971]

For those living in NY state, I did today the HBS antigen quantitative, at Quest. Let wait 3 days, and I will update if they will do it or not, no money, covered from Healthfirst insurance

[Airquake]

Liverpatient, it is not a test code. When I called they did not know what to do with it.

[twinboys1girl4me]

Copy and paste the jumpshare link I posted above.  This was posted from Dr. Gish's newsletter and has all the information your doctor needs to order the test, including the test and CPT code.  When you look at the file and call Sonora Quest with this information they will be able to find it in their system.  This is when I was told cash price in Arizona is almost $400.

[twinboys1girl4me]

Here it is....https://jumpshare.com/v/D14S9RBEzFsJNiP9wX5X

[Airquake]

I called Quest and confirmed the test is available nationwide without any restrictions. They could not tell me the test code or the price. For locations go to www.questdiagnostics.com

[Liverpatient]

In the website that you provided i found this code for hbsag quantitative test:
test code: 82397
link: http://www.questdiagnostics.com/testcenter/TestDetail.action?ntc=94333
Good luck everybody

[Jason_256]

So the test won't be available? I didn't see it on the sonora quest website either.

[twinboys1girl4me]

It is available through Sonora Quest but not in New York.  Copy and paste the jumpshare link above.  This gives all the information needed for your doctor to write a lab order.  

[chihep]

Per the Quest Lab form, this test is not available for New York State residents. Does anyone have more information about it?

[twinboys1girl4me]

I did see that for some reason New York is not available, but don't know why.  I called Sonora Quest and they said for cash price in Arizona is almost $400, so will be going through insurance when Sonora Quest is in network.  It doesn't seem available through LabCorp yet.

[chihep]

Yes, it is not available to Labcorp. I checked. So, we still have some problems to get the test. Twinboys1girl4me, you were talking about a lab that do tests without doctor's order. Did you check the lab? What was the name of the lab. I do not remember.

[twinboys1girl4me]

You need a doctors order still for the HbsAg quant and this is only currently through Sonora Quest.  Their website for locations is sonoraquest.com.  If you have one available to you make sure your insurance contracts with Sonora Quest, or you can find out the cash price, but in Arizona is obviously very high.  Good luck!

[mike9111]

Interesting to see also how much the cost. In Europe 20 euro without insurance

[faithhopegod]

Thank God . I guess ill wait for it to come out before starting peg.

[chihep]

Thank you for the good news!

[mer971]

Where did you get this information? I mean will be true?

Thanks

[twinboys1girl4me]

Information from Dr. Gish, world renowned Hepatologist.  If you click/print on the jump share link it will bring up the form information for your doctor to order correct test.

[Royal36]

Thank you itac. It is really a good news.

[twinboys1girl4me]

I was just going to post this, thank you Itac.  This year my insurance only contracts with LabCorp so I'm trying to figure out if they will have this test also, otherwise I need to wait until next year for Sonora Quest, unless the cash price is reasonable.  I will post if I'm able to find out about LabCorp and also what the cash price for Quest may be.  Either way, great news and about time!  

[twinboys1girl4me]

Here is the link to the Lab Update Form, to make it easy for your doctor to order the test.

https://jumpshare.com/v/D14S9RBEzFsJNiP9wX5X