Help Please!!

[threecharm]

My husband donated blood and we recieved a letter today saying that he tested positive for "Antibodies to Hepatitis B Core Antigen". My questions are, could I have this too? what about my children? What do I need to do from here? When did he get this and how long has it had it? How do I protect myself and my children? Oh I am freaking out!

[cajim]

Jump right in, NashPred!  Your answers are quite to the point and more helpful.  Thanks.

[NashPred]

False positves DO happen sometimes but not that offten and I don't know the chances of it being a false positive.

The vaccine shouldn't cause a false positive.

Don't let it worry you too much.

[threecharm]

Okay, thanks for all of your info! I will get everyone tested! I have been reading about this, what is this about false postive results for anti-HBc? So it could be a mistake? what are the chances of that? He has been vaccinated for hep b more than once could that cause a mistake in the results or cause it to show up positive?

[NashPred]

Cajim,

Sorry to jump in there, I was typing my response when you posted and didn't realize that you had already responded.

[NashPred]

Sex is a major form of transmission, but that does not mean that he has cheated on you. He could have caught it before he ever knew you. I wouldn’t worry about the cheating aspect. It is even possible that you had it without knowing about it and then gave it to him.

I’m not exactly sure of the figure, but I think something like 1 in 20 people will contract HBV in their lifetime, but most will clear it on their own. Also most people never even knew that they had it and find out totally by accident through routine blood work or donating blood.

If he is positive for HBcAb AND negative for HBsAg means that it is from a past infection that he has cleared and would now be immune and unable to spread what he no longer has.

No way to tell for sure WHEN he had it.

You were probably test when you were pregnant, but like cajim suggested, get everyone tested and vaccinated if necessary.

[threecharm]

shew, thats good but can I find out when he was affect with this? When I got pregnant with our kids they would have tested me for this right? So the positive result for anti-hbc means that he had hep B in the past but is now clear and is unable to spread the virus?

[NashPred]

If negative for HBsAg, then he is no longer infected and it would appear that he has cleared the virus on his own.

[threecharm]

okay on the report it says that he tested negative for HBsAG

[NashPred]

Just because your husband tested positive for anti-HBcAb that does not mean that he is currently infected with HBV. It does mean that at some point in time, he has been infected with HBV but may have cleared the virus on his own and may now have immunity.

95% of people infected as an adult will clear the virus on their own. The only way to know for sure if he is currently infected is for him to be tested for HBsAg.

Please visit the HepB Intoduction & Welcome Page by following the link on the right side of the screen under “Most Viewed Health Pages” this may help to explain some of your questions.

[threecharm]

From what I have read you get this through sex or sharing needles, right? So, if that is the case could he have cheated on me? We have been together for 8 years now, I am trying to stay calm but it is really hard too

[cajim]

Please calm down.  What you should do is to have you and your children tested for HBsAg and anti-HBs.  If you and your children are HBsAg negative and anti-HBs positive, that is best: you are immune and your husband's HBV cannot affect you; if you and your children are HBsAg negative and anti-HBs negative, then you need to get vaccination against HBV; if you and your children are HBsAg positive, then your husband cannot affect you because you already have HBV.

Hope this helps.