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What Does A Positive HBsAb Mean And Are There Risks Of Being Around A Child In This Condition?
Posted on
Fri, 13 Jul 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 13 Jul 2018
Answered on
Wed, 6 Jul 2022
Last reviewed on
Question : Hi, I'm hiring a nanny but got these test results.
My understanding is that she's contagious and it would be a bad idea to hire her. Can you help me interpret this?
My child is 6 months old and has completed his rounds of hep b vaccination. Would this be too risky?
My understanding is that she's contagious and it would be a bad idea to hire her. Can you help me interpret this?
My child is 6 months old and has completed his rounds of hep b vaccination. Would this be too risky?
Brief Answer:
HBsAb, not HBsAg.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Please accept my sincere apologies as I've misread the test report. I though it was HBsAg but it was HBsAb which is totally different. This is a reactive antibody to hepatitis surface antigen which denotes immunity (either after an acute infection that's resolved and non-infectious now or after vaccination).
The levels of the antibody would have been useful to determine adequate immunity but the reactivity is enough evidence that this person is not infective. The complete immune status would have required HBsAg, AntiHBc IgG and IgM but a positive antibody to HBsAg is enough.
Regards
HBsAb, not HBsAg.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Please accept my sincere apologies as I've misread the test report. I though it was HBsAg but it was HBsAb which is totally different. This is a reactive antibody to hepatitis surface antigen which denotes immunity (either after an acute infection that's resolved and non-infectious now or after vaccination).
The levels of the antibody would have been useful to determine adequate immunity but the reactivity is enough evidence that this person is not infective. The complete immune status would have required HBsAg, AntiHBc IgG and IgM but a positive antibody to HBsAg is enough.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Attached both tests we have.
Brief Answer:
No hepatitis
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I've just seen them and they're OK. There is no hepatitis. Actually she's immune to it either by vaccination or by prior resolved acute infection but even if she's got acute hepatitis in the past she can't transmit it. The other test (about H. pylori) is reactive (positive) which means that she carries Helicobacter. This is not as important as hepatitis though. Many people carry this bacterium without any knowledge of it. It may be implicated in the development of gastritis and peptic ulcers. It is contagious and may spread into families.
It's very likely that your baby will acquire it as it grows up anyway but if you'd like to reduce the risk, every family member should be tested and if positive, receive appropriate antibiotic treatment.
Regards
No hepatitis
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I've just seen them and they're OK. There is no hepatitis. Actually she's immune to it either by vaccination or by prior resolved acute infection but even if she's got acute hepatitis in the past she can't transmit it. The other test (about H. pylori) is reactive (positive) which means that she carries Helicobacter. This is not as important as hepatitis though. Many people carry this bacterium without any knowledge of it. It may be implicated in the development of gastritis and peptic ulcers. It is contagious and may spread into families.
It's very likely that your baby will acquire it as it grows up anyway but if you'd like to reduce the risk, every family member should be tested and if positive, receive appropriate antibiotic treatment.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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