Hepatitis B viral infection (HBV) screening is performed for different reasons, including the identification of antibodies produced in response to HBV infections. It can also be used to identify antigens resulting from the presence of the virus or to detect the presence of viral DNA.
While acute hepatitis B typically lasts less than 6 months, chronic hepatitis B can persist for a lifetime, making early detection crucial for preventing long-term health issues.
Doctors will perform a hepatitis B screening when a patient presents with signs and symptoms related to the infection. The symptoms may include:
Doctors will generally carry out just one set of tests as an initial determinant for HBV infection to identify the cause of observed symptoms. Another specialised test may be conducted after the diagnosis to monitor the progression of the disease, or to determine if the person is a carrier of the virus.
Below is a summary of the sets of tests usually used for initial screening of HBV infection.
Though the screenings listed above are specific to HBV, other liver tests like aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) may be conducted to observe and study the progression of the disease further. Doctors may even perform a liver biopsy to determine the extent of liver damage.
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Senior Consultant Surgeon
Senior Consultant Surgeon