why not all the tests for hep b?

[remix99]

Hi i noticed at STD clinics they test for HbsAg,Anti Hbs, and Anti Hbc IgG and IgM - are these tests reliable to diagnose hep b? Why not Use the other tests such as HBV DNA, HbeAg, Anti Hbe? Even Blood Blanks only test for HbsAg an Anti Hbc


Thanks

[remix99]

yea that makes sense..thanks!

[NashPred]

I just meant that blood banks test blood to see if it is infected with HBV, HCV, HIV, etc. It doesn’t really matter to them if the blood has a viral load (i.e. HBV DNA) in the millions or in the 100’s because if the blood is infected, it is infected and they cannot use it. Their job is to diagnose infectivity of blood and not infectivity of people.

I guess by "extent" I meant how much the viral load of the blood sample is.

Hope this makes sense.

[remix99]

sorry nashpred i misinterpreted what u wrote..but what do u mean when u said "They don't care to what extent the blood is infected."

[remix99]

why wouldnt there care? If they didnt - millions of people would be infected with HIV, hep b , hep c ...u name it. I dont get it..lol

[NashPred]

You're welcome

[NashPred]

Also, Blood Banks are really only worried about whether or not the blood is infected. They don't care to what extent the blood is infected.

[remix99]

Thanks NashPred! Much appreciated! I always wondered about that for a long time!

[NashPred]

Clinics and blood banks are usually just trying to find out if someone has hepatitis or not, and then that person is referred to a specialist.

Test for HBV DNA, and “e” Ag/Ab are more expensive and only used to determine status of a “CHRONIC” HBV infection and for monitoring the progression of the disease.  

So a clinic wouldn’t want to run an expensive test while someone may still be in the “ACUTE” stage of the infection and have a 90 to 95% chance of clearing the virus on their own.  It would just be a waste of money.

Hope this helps.