Hepatitis B Core Antibody Reactive

[chris]

I recently attempted to donate blood however, I received a letter from the blood center saying that I tested positive/reactive to Hepatitis B Core Antibody, but negative for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen.  However, three years ago before entering college I received the set of three immunizations against Hepatitis.  I was wondering if you could tell me what having tested reactive for the Hepatitis B Core Antibody means and how this could have happened if I was immunized.  
Thank You,
Chris

[euphoria21]

hi is there any possibility that HBsAG can be positive and Anti- HBS is also postive, are there instances like this? pls let me know thanks

[cajim]

See the answer to your other post.

[nonukes]

Hi- I am a nurse. I recently had two needle sticks on different dates. I tested positive for the hep B surface antibody and positive for the hep B core antibody. Liver enzymes normal. I recall having been jaundiced and having had hep A twenty years ago. I did not go to Western Med when the Hep A occurred. Bad food - Yucatan, etc,..
So... now do I have Hep B?
or does the test mean I have had it, possibly secondary to the gamma globulin shots- ( vaccine) and that I need not worry about it.
  Are the days of unprotected sex over  if when I again have a sexual partner?

[nonukes]

Here is more data...

HBsAb ( +) possibly secondary to the gamma globulin ...
HBcAb( +)
HBVDNA ( -)
ALT ( -)
AST (-)

Are my days of unprotected sex over?
I understand an infected not infectious...
Is there more I should understand?

I did have a Hep A case in 1989...

How can I transmit this ?
What must I do to not transmit this?

thanks in advance

[cajim]

If you had Hep A before, now you are immune from HAV forever.

You have Hep B because you are HBsAg positive.

If your sex partner is immune to HBV with positive anti-HBs, then you can have unprotected sex.

[Hepatitis Researcher]

nonukes does not have chronic Hepatitis b, since his antibody, not his surface antigen is positive. Since the total core Ab is also positive it means that he has been previously exposed to the whole virus, but developed immunity, most importantly also humoral immunity that will complex any tiny amount of virus that is still produced ( As is the case with most every person that ever had HBV even if " cleared").
From the above info it appears that no extra sexual precautions due to HBV are necessary.
Note that the recent gamma globulin shots could not have caused anti HBSAg positivity if you were a true chronic HBv carrier. It is close to impossible to suppress the surface antigen with external antiHBS AB, the amounts needed to do so are staggering high. Two major trials have tried to achieve this, with gigantic doses and failed.