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Hepatitis B Core Antibody Total (HBc T)

HBcAb, Anti-HBc, Antibody to Hepatitis B Core Antigen, Hepatitis B Core Antibody Total (HBcAb)

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB5220, Beaker: HBCT, Antrim: 30100

Department

Chemistry

Instructions

Hepatitis B Core Antibody (Total) measures both IgG and IgM antibodies but does not differentiate between them.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Gold-top SST tube. (Minimum Whole Blood: 4.0 mL)
Also acceptable: One Lavender-top EDTA tube. (Minimum Whole Blood: 3.0 mL)

Contact the Laboratory for the acceptability of other tube types.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let SST specimens clot 30-60 minutes then immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F) the centrifuged SST tube within two hours of collection.

Centrifuge Lavender-top tube immediately to separate plasma from cells. Transfer 3.0 mL plasma to plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F) within two hours of collection.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Centrifuged SST tube or 2.0 mL plasma, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 2.0 mL serum or plasma)

Rejection Criteria

• Severely lipemic or hemolyzed specimens.
• Red-top tubes with serum not separated from cells within two hours of collection. 

In-Lab Processing

Let SST specimens clot 30-60 minutes. Centrifuge SST, Lavender-top tubes, or Microtainers^® to separate serum or plasma from cells. Deliver immediately to the appropriate testing station.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Centrifuged SST Tubes and Microtainers^® with Separator Gel
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 72 hours
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Red-top Tubes and Microtainers^® without Separator Gel
Room Temperature (20-25°C or 68-77°F): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Serum Specimens (Pour-Overs)
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 72 hours
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 7 days

Plasma Specimens (Aliquots)
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 12 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 72 hours
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 7 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days

Laboratory

Dearborn Chemistry Laboratory
Royal Oak Automated Chemistry Laboratory 

Performed

Sunday – Saturday, 24 hours a day.
Results available within 24 hours of receipt in the Laboratory.

Reference Range

Negative.

Test Methodology

Chemiluminescence Immunoassay.

Interpretation

This assay tests for IgG and IgM antibodies but does not differentiate between them.

Clinical Utility

A positive result indicates acute, recent, resolving, or past infection with hepatitis B. Both total and IgM hepatitis B core antibody will be positive in the “core window” when hepatitis B surface Ag is negative.

Clinical Disease

Patients with hepatitis B may present with fatigue, poor appetite, fever, vomiting and occasionally joint pain, hives, or rash. Urine may become darker in color, and then jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) may appear. Patients may also be asymptomatic or experience only a few symptoms. The incubation period for hepatitis B is approximately 70 days (range, 30-180 days). (1)

Epidemiology

Hepatitis B infections (HBV) are found worldwide. It is the most prevalent type of acute hepatitis worldwide. Persistent infection with the virus is common. In highly endemic areas approximately 10% of the population are chronic carriers of HBV. The number of chronic carriers worldwide exceeds 230 million. (2)

Transmission

Hepatitis B virus can be found in blood, saliva, semen, and other body fluids of infected individuals. The virus is spread by direct contact with infected body fluids. Transfusion was formerly the major mode of transmission of Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B infection is now most frequently spread by sexual contact, intravenous drug abuse and transmission from mothers to their newborn infants. (2)

Reference

1. Hsu, H., Feinstone, S., Hoofnagle, J. Acute Viral Hepatitis in Mandell, G., Bennett, J., Dolin, R. (eds.), Principles of Infectious Diseases 7th edition New York, N.Y. 1995; 2005 Chapter 115,116.
2. Farrar, W., Wood, M., Innes, J., Tubbs, H. Infectious Diseases, Time Mirror International Publishers Ltd New York, N.Y. 1995.

CPT Codes

86704

Contacts

Last Updated

10/29/2023