Skip to content
Epomedicine

Mnemonics, Simplified Concepts & Thoughts

Epomedicine

Mnemonics, Simplified Concepts & Thoughts

hepatitis b serology

Interpreting Hepatitis B Serology in 5 Easy steps

Epomedicine, Feb 3, 2017

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)

  • Appears during incubation period (1-6 months), 2-7 weeks prior to symptoms.
  • Peaks when the patient is most ill.
  • Becomes undetectable in 3-6 months.
  • Indicates infection – recent or chronic.

Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs or HBsAb)

  • Arises once the acute disease has resolved.
  • Sometimes, not detectable unless until weeks or months after HBsAg has disappeared. This gap is called “window” period.
  • Indicates, immunity (by vaccination or infection).

Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc or HBcAb)

  • Anti-HBc IgM and elevated serum transaminases also appear shortly before the symptom onset.
  • Over the next few months, anti-HBc IgM is replaced with an IgG component.
  • IgM = Recent (Acute) infection
  • IgG = Chronic infection

Hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)

  • Shortly after HBsAg appears, HBeAg and HBV DNA can be detected in the serum and are markers of the acute viral replication.
  • Predictor of infectivity.

Hepatitis B e-antibody (anti-HBe or HBeAb)

  • Anti-HBe appears shortly after HBeAg vanishes and indicates subsiding viral activity.
  • Predictor of low infectivity.
hepatitis b serology
Acute Hepatitis B infection – serologic course

 

 

chronic hepatitis b infection - serologic course
chronic hepatitis b infection – serologic course
  HBsAg Anti-HBs Anti-HBc HBeAg Anti-HBe
Never infected (susceptible) – – – – –
Incubation period + (1st to appear) – IgM (shortly before symptom onset) + –
Prodrome, Acute disease + – IgM + +/-
Window period – – IgM +/- +/-
Convalescence (Recovery) – + IgG – +/-
Chronic active hepatitis B + – IgG + –
Chronic non-active hepatitis B + – IgG – +
Immune due to Vaccination – + – – –
Immune due to Natural infection – + IgG – +/-
False positive or infection in remote past – – IgG – –
2 shares
  • Facebook2
  • Twitter
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS Gastrointestinal systemImmunologyMicrobiology

Post navigation

Previous post
Next post

Related Posts

PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS

Mnemonic Approach to Elbow Xray – FOOL

Oct 12, 2019Jun 14, 2022

Mnemonic: FOOLa. Fat padsb. Overt findings and outlinesc. Ossification centersd. Lines Fat pads The elbow joint has anterior and posterior fat pads which are extra-synovial but within the articular capsule. These are present as a radiolucent (black) line (compared to bone and surrounding soft tissues) in lateral X-rays. Normal finding:…

Read More
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS

Idiopathic Scoliosis Made Easy

Jul 30, 2022Oct 28, 2022

Definition Cobb’s angle >10° Diagnosis of exclusion: Congenital scoliosis and Neuromuscular scoliosis ruled out Types: Early onset (<10 years): Infantile: 0-3 years Juvenile: 4-10 years Late onset (>10 years) Adolescent: 10-18 years Adult: >18 years Indications for MRI in general Mnemonic: Left JAPAN Left thoracic curves Juvenile onset (<10 years)…

Read More
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS

Rheumatoid Arthritis Criteria Mnemonics

Sep 1, 2020Feb 21, 2023

The 2 commonly used criteria for diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis will be discussed here. 1987 ACR Criteria Mnemonic: DMARDs if MADRAS Mnemonic: EARS For diagnosis of RA: 4 out of 7 criteria must be present (except duration) and criteria listed above in number 1, 2, 7 and 8 must be…

Read More

Comments (2)

  1. Smith says:
    Aug 1, 2017 at 10:08 am

    Dear admin
    I want to ask anti-hbs is 76.61.csbt/ is high or low. Many thanks.

    Reply
  2. Agatha says:
    Jul 23, 2019 at 6:09 pm

    My sister almost died of CHRONIC HEPATITIS B, she suffered rips pain, swollen stomach, tiredness, headache and more as symptoms of the ailment. The hospital said her liver was in danger and they couldn’t help, and out of frustration I went online looking for solution to help my sister, and I came across Dr. Iyabiye’s herbal recommendation, I contacted him and explain in details the medical condition of my sister. I order for the medication and the pains was gone, she was totally cured after the herbal treatment. So, I came back here to testify of his herbal medication. Doctor’s contact: (Whatsapp: +2348072229413 call:+2348158577300) email: [email protected]

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Smith Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Pre-clinical (Basic Sciences)

Anatomy

Biochemistry

Community medicine (PSM)

Embryology

Microbiology

Pathology

Pharmacology

Physiology

Clinical Sciences

Anesthesia

Dermatology

Emergency medicine

Forensic

Internal medicine

Gynecology & Obstetrics

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Orthopedics

Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)

Pediatrics

Psychiatry

Radiology

Surgery

RSS Ask Epomedicine

  • What to study for Clinical examination in Orthopedics?
  • What is the mechanism of AVNRT?

Epomedicine weekly

  • About Epomedicine
  • Contact Us
  • Author Guidelines
  • Submit Article
  • Editorial Board
  • USMLE
  • MRCS
  • Thesis
©2026 Epomedicine | WordPress Theme by SuperbThemes