Synonyms

Hepatitis B antibody, Hepatitis B surface antibody, anti-HBs

Test Includes

Detection of antibodies to Hepatitis B surface antigen

Request Form 

Combined Pathology Blood form (Yellow/Black or Blue for GP's) or
Microbiology form (Green)

Availability

On request during normal working hours

Specific Criteria

Please give detailed clinical information, including (1) the date of any Hepatitis B virus immunisation course; (2) the date of the incident and identity of any patient involved in a "needle-stick" incident, as relevant.

Turnaround Time

All tests will be performed on the next normal working day after receipt of the sample

Specimen

Serum

Volume

5 ml

Container

Yellow top (SST) tube

Collection

Samples should be transported to laboratory immediately

Lab. Handling

Aliquot and store at 4ºC

Causes for Rejection

Unlabelled sample
Delay in sample reaching laboratory 

Reference Range

An antibody level of less than 10 mIU/ml indicates no significant response or immunity
A further full course of three doses of vaccine is advisable, with a further blood sample tested 1 - 2 months after completion.  If there is no response to a second course of immunisation, further investigations may be required Please contact the Virology Laboratory (ext. 3536 or 01268-593536) for advice

An antibody level of 10 - 100 mIU/ml indicates a low level of immunity which is probably protective.  A single booster dose of vaccine should be given and a further blood sample tested 1 - 2 months after this booster dose

An antibody level of greater than 100 mIU/ml indicates a good immune response with protective immunity.  The immune status should be checked 3 - 5 years after a sample giving this result