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

[stevenNYer]

Positve core antibody could indicate a past or present infection.  If your surface antigen is negative, then it likely means a past infection.  Which would then mean, you were probably immuned thanks to clearance of a prior infection (even before your vaccination).  

[Zang]

If you test postive for Hep B core Antibody  and are immuned, can you still transmit the virus to your sexual partner? Also, are you still at risk for developing chrrosis and/ or cancer of the liver?

[Dimples0522]

I am a mom of 4 kids and I decided to become an egg donor couple of months ago, As I was going through the medical examination process, my Hep. B Core Antibody and Hep. B Surface Antibody says it is REACTIVE.  I am not born and raised here in USA, I am originally from the Philippines, I asked my mother if I was ever vaccinated, but she said she forgets.  Also, I have Psoriasis, 2 yrs ago I injected Enbrel for 6 months and I know that it causes a lot of side effects, could it be from Enbrel or just plainly my mom didn't get me vaccinated?  I hope someone there can help me.  thanks

Cristina

[stevenNYer]

There's a new HepB forum:

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/show/223

Repost your question there.

[simplejarvis]

I read a medical report of my ex-girlfriend and it said she is positive to Hepatitis B core antibody. Hepatisis B core  Total Antibody detected.We last had unprotected sex 07/13/2008. Have not made any tests myself. What do the test result mean to my ex-girlfriend? what do the test mean to me. I am I enfected too? What can I do?

[cajim]

>>>What can I do?

Test your HBsAg and anti-HBs.

- +, you are immune,
- -, you need vaccination,
+ -, you have Hep B.

[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.

[cajim]

Thank you very much, HR, for your catching my HBsAg for HBsAb, and your expert information.

[nonukes]

Thank you...

primarily for the news that I do not have chronic hep B...
and for the info regarding... no extra sexual precautions needed..

Here are the #s...  is the above recommendation by you.. still vallid...
sorry I didnt have it earlier... nonukes

Hep b Surface antigen  (-) 10/7
hep b core antibody    ( +) 10/7
Hcv Ab S                   ( -)  10/7

Hep b surface antibody   (+) 10/15
Hep b core antibody        ( +)  10/15
Hep B viral DNA QN, S      < 357
albumin                            4.1
bilirubin                             1.4 ( a bit high)
biillirubin direct                   0.20 mg/dL
AST                                  20
ALT                                  43
Protein                              6.8

[Roberto123]

I being trying to understad what is the diagnosis on having this results with out any success, even with my doctor, i would like to know if you can help us to understand.

My wife is a dentist an she got the hep B vaccine 13 years ago, she stop working as a dentist 9 years ago. a recent hep b tests indicates the following:

anti-hbs = 565.89 miu/ml (antibodies for surface antigen)
pcr for hep b = positive

Doctor never ask for the surface antigen test, but she is telling us that my wife is inffected, she never had any sympton.

AST / ALT are normal, along with bilirrubin and alcaline fosfatasa levels, a fibromax test indicates that liver does not have any demage, but our doctor insist that she is infected because the PCR indicates POSITIVE.

All related lab test are posted in my photo section for support.

Do you think that she is infected with hep B?

[Hepatitis Researcher]

nonukes; the answer is still valid.

roberto:
Depending on the sensitivity of the test used PCR positivity is still possible for some patients even with a seroconverted = protected from internal spread of HBV -  surface antigen. (= "cured")
A direct surface antigen test should still be done in this case, it needs to be negative, chances are that it will. This is now the most important test to be done. If HbSAg  is not negative  we have a scenario where the anti HbS antibody is directed against a different serotype, not protecting/neutralizing the actually infecting strain, , but this is not too likely in this case.

[Roberto123]

thank you so much for your anwer

We will have the hbsag results next week. Since these is the most important test to perform and my doctor recognizing that she and lab are miss understanding the lab test requested, what is the exact name of the hbsag test and what should be the results expected for a positive or for a negative since tests results offer quantitative values?

[Roberto123]

it is a true statement that a positive pcr in some cases is because a very little of virus are present specially in people who got the vaccine like my wife and never will be eliminated ?  

What will need to do if hbsag is NEGATIVE and PCR is positive? Remember that anti-hbs is > 500?

[nonukes]

Hello-

Is there any way you would be willing to validate your experience as
one who knows of Hepatits. Clearly your data to me above was potent.
I am wondering if you could tell me where you do your research and how long you
have been studying it under what context...
If you are more comfortable emailing off this list I can provide that too..
dsexplore1atyahoo----

Thanks so much...

No Nukes!  They are not the answer to the climate issue.
They cost too much
They are not sustainable
They are a threat to public health
Our kids' kids'kids' deserve better


Sorry, once I got that hbv thing outta the way I return my arrogant anti nuke crusader persona.

[nonukes]

My Physician's Assistant corroborated the data offered by Hepatitis researcher...

So - I am extremely grateful...

I had never heard of a hep b case- not contagious, not recurring... but allegedly this is what I am fortunate to have...

Does anyone have any idea how rare/ common it is...?

thanks again for all your help...

[stevenNYer]

It's good that your PA corroborated HR's suggestion / comment.  Otherwise, your PA would be wrong ;)

Some of the regulars here at the HepB and HepC forum, who know HR would tell you he's a true expert.  We are very very fortunate to have HR at these forums.

And as to how rare / common.  It's very common, hundreds of millions at the minimum.

[nonukes]

Hmmpphh So steven you are saying that a hep b that never recurs ... that is of no consequence and that requires no extra protection relative to Hep B is very common.

It is the first such incidence the 6 year PA had come across. He got the information he used ( he had not been informed of what hepatitisresearcher shared with me via the forum) from a gastroenterologist.

I am surprised,,,
I always thought hep B was a recurring...  p.i.t.a....thing..

I feel very lucky, grateful,etc...

thanks

[NashPred]

When an adult contracts HBV, they have a 95% chance of their immune system clearing the virus on its own, developing antibodies, and becoming immune to future infection for life…..just like you did. This is all fairly common. I have heard that anywhere from 1 in 10 to 1 in 20 people who have not been vaccinated will contract HBV at some point in their lifetime.

For the 5% of adults who don’t clear the virus on their own or for children that contract the virus or who were born with the virus…. it becomes a chronic p.i.t.a.

So for 95% of adults who contract HBV, the virus will usually come and go without them ever knowing that they had it. A few may feel symptoms…but most don’t.

Congratulations to you and your immune system for fighting it off.

[Roberto123]

We got the HbsAg and HbeAG results, both were NEGATIVE, any clue of why Qualitative PCR was POSITIVE? She was vaccined 13 years ago and now she has anti-hbs levels of >500 mui