Hep B Core Ab, Tot
Other names: HEPATITIS B CORE AB TOTAL
Hep B Core Ab, Tot [aka Total antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc)] appears at the onset of symptoms in acute hepatitis B, is a measure of both IgM and IgG, and persists for life. The presence of total anti-HBc indicates previous or ongoing infection with hepatitis B virus in an undefined time frame. People who have immunity to hepatitis B from a vaccine do not develop anti-HBc.
-------------------------
Hepatitis B serologic testing involves measurement of several hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific antigens and antibodies. Different serologic “markers” or combinations of markers are used to identify different phases of HBV infection and to determine whether a patient has acute or chronic HBV infection, is immune to HBV as a result of prior infection or vaccination, or is susceptible to infection.
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg):
A protein on the surface of hepatitis B virus that can be detected in high levels in serum during acute or chronic hepatitis B virus infection. The presence of HBsAg indicates that the person is infectious, except when it might be transiently positive within 30 days after a dose of hepatitis B vaccine (HepB). The body normally produces antibodies to HBsAg as part of the normal immune response to infection. HBsAg is the antigen used to make HepB vaccine.
Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs):
The presence of anti-HBs is generally interpreted as indicating recovery and immunity from hepatitis B virus infection. Anti-HBs also develops in a person who has been successfully vaccinated against hepatitis B. Among vaccine responders who completed a vaccine series, anti-HBs levels can decline over time, however the majority are still immune and will mount a response when exposed to HBV.
Total antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc):
Appears at the onset of symptoms in acute hepatitis B, is a measure of both IgM and IgG, and persists for life. The presence of total anti-HBc indicates previous or ongoing infection with hepatitis B virus in an undefined time frame. People who have immunity to hepatitis B from a vaccine do not develop anti-HBc.
IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (IgM anti-HBc):
Positivity indicates recent infection with hepatitis B virus (<6 mos). Its presence indicates acute infection. IgM anti-HBc should be ordered only when acute HBV infection is a concern.
-------------------------
| Test and Result | Interpretation | Action |
|---|---|---|
| HBsAg—Positive Total anti-HBc — Positive IgM anti-HBc — Positive Anti-HBs — Negative |
Acute infection | Link to hepatitis B care |
| HBsAg — Positive Total anti-HBc — Positive IgM anti-HBc — Negative1 Anti-HBs — Negative |
Chronic Infection | Link to hepatitis B care |
| HBsAg — Negative Total anti-HBc — Positive Anti-HBs — Positive |
Resolved Infection | Counsel about HBV infection reactivation risk |
| HBsAg — Negative Total anti-HBc — Negative Anti-HBs — Positive2 |
Immune from receipt of prior vaccination (if documented complete series) | If no documentation of full vaccination, then complete vaccine series per ACIP recommendations. |
| HBsAg — Negative Total anti-HBc — Positive Anti-HBs — Negative |
Only core antibody is positive. See possible interpretations and corresponding actions: | |
| Resolved infection where anti-HBs levels have waned | Counsel about HBV infection reactivation risk | |
| Occult Infection | Link to hepatitis B care | |
| Passive transfer of anti-HBc to an infant born to an HBsAg-positive gestational parent | No action | |
| A false positive, thus patient is susceptible | Offer HepB vaccine per Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) | |
| A mutant HBsAg strain that is not detectable by laboratory assay | Link to hepatitis B care | |
| HBsAg — Negative Total anti-HBc — Negative Anti-HBs — Negative3 |
Susceptible, never infected (if no documentation of HepB vaccine series completion) | Offer HepB vaccine per ACIP recommendations |
1 IgM anti-HBc also might be positive in persons with chronic infection during severe HBV infection flares or reactivation.
2 Immune if anti-HBs concentration is >10 mIU/mL after vaccine series completion.
3 Anti-HBs concentrations might wane over time among vaccine responders. People with a documented, complete HepB vaccine series typically do not need to be revaccinated, except for special populations like patients on hemodialysis or health care personnel.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/interpretationOfHepBSerologicResults.htm
All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results Easily
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results
Import lab results from multiple providers, track changes over time, customize your reference ranges, and get clear explanations for each result. Everything is stored securely, exportable in one organized file, and shareable with your doctor—or anyone you choose.
Cancel or upgrade anytime
Laboratories
Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place
We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.
Pricing Table
Gather Your Lab History — and Finally Make Sense of It
Finally, Your Lab Results Organized and Clear
Personal plans
$79/ year
Advanced Plan
Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 5 reports entered for you
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
$250/ once
Unlimited Account
Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 10 reports entered for you
- No subscriptions. No extra fees.
$45/ month
Pro Monthly
Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track lab results for multiple clients
- Customize reference ranges per client
- Export lab histories and reports
- Begin with first report entered by us
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
About membership
What's included in a Healthmatters membership
Import Lab Results from Any Source
See Your Health Timeline
Understand What Your Results Mean
Visualize Your Results
Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Securely Share With Anyone You Trust
Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story
Once your results are in one place, see the bigger picture — track trends over time, compare data side by side, export your full history, and share securely with anyone you trust.
Bring all your results together to compare, track progress, export your history, and share securely.
What Healthmatters Members Are Saying
Frequently asked questions
Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.
- Individuals who want to track and understand their health over time.
- Health professionals, such as doctors, nutritionists, and wellness coaches, need to manage and interpret lab data for their clients.
With a Healthmatters account, you can:
- Upload lab reports from any lab
- View your data in interactive graphs, tables, and timelines
- Track trends and monitor changes over time
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export and share your full lab history
- Access your results anytime, from any device
Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 10000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
- The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
- GI-MAP,
- The NutrEval FMV®,
- The ION Profile,
- Amino Acids Profile,
- Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
- Organic Acids Test,
- Organix Comprehensive Profile,
- Toxic Metals,
- Complete Blood Count (CBC),
- Metabolic panel,
- Thyroid panel,
- Lipid Panel,
- Urinalysis,
- And many, many more.
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.