Home
HelpTest Code HBC Hepatitis B Virus Core Total Antibodies, Serum
Reporting Name
HBc Total Ab, SUseful For
Diagnosis of recent or past hepatitis B
Determination of occult hepatitis B in otherwise healthy hepatitis B virus carriers with negative test results for hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigen, anti-HBs, anti-HB core IgM, hepatitis Be (HBe) antigen, and anti-HBe
This assay is not useful for differentiating among acute, chronic, and past or resolved hepatitis B.
This test should not be used as a screening or confirmatory test for blood donor specimens.
Performing Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Specimen Type
Serum SSTOrdering Guidance
This test should not be used to screen or test pregnant individuals who may or may not have risk factors for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. For testing such patients, order HBCPR / Hepatitis B Virus Core Total Antibodies Prenatal, Serum.
This test should not be used to screen or test asymptomatic, non-pregnant individuals with or without risk factors for HBV. For testing such patients, order HBCSN / Hepatitis B Virus Core Total Antibodies Screen, Serum.
If a hepatitis B core total antibody test that reflexes to hepatitis B virus core IgM is needed, order test CORAB / Hepatitis B Virus Core Total Antibodies, with Reflex to Hepatitis B Virus Core Antibody IgM, Serum.
Necessary Information
Date of collection is required.
Specimen Required
Patient Preparation: For 24 hours before specimen collection, patient should not take multivitamins or dietary supplements (eg, hair, skin, and nail supplements) containing biotin (vitamin B7).
Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)
Collection Container/Tube: Serum gel (red-top tubes are not acceptable)
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 0.7 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Centrifuge blood collection tube per manufacturer's instructions (eg, centrifuge and aliquot within 2 hours of collection for BD Vacutainer tubes).
2. Aliquot serum into a plastic vial.
Specimen Minimum Volume
0.6 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serum SST | Frozen (preferred) | 90 days | |
| Refrigerated | 6 days | ||
| Ambient | 72 hours |
Special Instructions
Reference Values
Negative
Interpretation depends on clinical setting.
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Saturday
Test Classification
This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.CPT Code Information
86704
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| HBC | HBc Total Ab, S | 13952-7 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| HBC | HBc Total Ab, S | 13952-7 |
Clinical Information
Hepatitis B virus core antibodies (anti-HBc) appear shortly after the onset of symptoms of hepatitis B infection and soon after the appearance of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg). Initially, anti-HBc consist almost entirely of the IgM antibody class, followed by appearance of anti-HBc IgG for which there is no commercial diagnostic assay.
The anti-HBc total antibody test, which detects both IgM and IgG antibodies, and the test for anti-HBc IgM may be the only markers of recent hepatitis B detectable in the "window period." The window period begins with the clearance of HBsAg and ends with the appearance of anti-HBs. Anti-HBc total may be the only serologic marker remaining years after exposure to hepatitis B virus.
This assay is US Food and Drug Administration-approved for in vitro diagnostic use and not for screening cell, tissue, and blood donors.
Interpretation
Negative hepatitis B virus core total antibody (anti-HBc total) test results indicate the absence of exposure to hepatitis B virus and no evidence of recent, past/resolved, or chronic hepatitis B.
A positive result indicates acute, chronic, or past or resolved hepatitis B.
Positive anti-HBc total test results should be correlated with the presence of other hepatitis B virus serologic markers, elevated liver enzymes, clinical signs and symptoms, and a history of risk factors.
If clinically indicated, testing for anti-HBc IgM (HBIM / Hepatitis B Virus Core Antibody, IgM, Serum) is necessary to confirm an acute or recent infection.
Neonatal patients (<1 month old) with positive anti-HBc total results from this assay should be tested for anti-HBc IgM (HBIM / Hepatitis B Virus Core Antibody, IgM, Serum) to rule out possible maternal anti-HBc causing false-positive results. Repeat testing using this assay for anti-HBc total within 1 month is also recommended for these neonatal patients.
Cautions
This assay has not been licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration for the screening of blood, plasma, and tissue donors.
For diagnostic purposes, the results should always be assessed in conjunction with the patient’s medical history, clinical examination, and other findings.
Serum specimens from individuals taking biotin supplements of 20 mg or more per day may have false-positive hepatitis B core (HBc) total antibody test results due to interference of biotin with the assay. Such individuals should stop taking these biotin-containing dietary supplements for a minimum of 12 hours before blood collection for this test.
Current methods for the detection of antibodies to HBc may not detect all infected individuals. A nonreactive test result does not exclude the possibility of exposure to hepatitis B virus. In rare cases, interference due to high titers of antibodies to immunological components, streptavidin or ruthenium can occur.
Specimens containing sodium azide may cause false-positive results and should not be tested. Lipemic and precipitated samples may give inconsistent results. False positive results may also occur in a limited number of patients positive for antibodies to hepatitis C virus, hepatitis E virus, human T-cell lymphotropic virus, and HIV. A reactive anti-HBc result does not exclude co-infection by another hepatitis virus.
Negative anti-HBc results may occur during early infection due to delayed seroconversion or low antibody levels below the detection limit of this assay or if the patient’s antibodies do not react with the antigen used in this test.
Results obtained with the Elecsys Anti-HBc II immunoassay may not be used interchangeably with values obtained with different manufacturers’ assay methods.
Assay performance characteristics have not been established for the following specimen characteristics or specimen types:
-Patients younger than 21 years, pregnant women, or in populations of immunocompromised or immunosuppressed patients.
-Grossly icteric (total bilirubin level of >25 mg/dL)
-Grossly lipemic (intralipid level of >1000 mg/dL)
-Grossly hemolyzed (hemoglobin level of >800 mg/dL)
-Containing particulate matter
-Cadaveric specimens
-Heat inactivated specimens
-Specimen types other than serum
Clinical Reference
1. LeFevre ML; U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for hepatitis B virus infection in nonpregnant adolescents and adults: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med. 2014;161(1):58-66. doi:10.7326/M14-1018
2. WHO guidelines on hepatitis B and C testing. Geneva: World Health Organization; February 2017. Accessed September 9, 2023. Available at www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549981
3. Jackson K, Locarnini S, Gish R: Diagnostics of hepatitis B virus: Standard of care and investigational. Clin Liver Dis. 2018;12(1):5-11. doi:10.1002/cld.729
4. Coffin CS, Zhou K, Terrault NA: New and old biomarkers for diagnosis and management of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Gastroenterology. 2019;156(2):355-368. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2018.11.037
5. Conners EE, Panagiotakopoulos L, Hofmeister MG, et al. Screening and testing for hepatitis B virus infection: CDC recommendations - United States, 2023. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2023;72(1):1-25. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7201a1
Method Description
The Elecsys anti-HBc (hepatitis B virus core antibody) II assay is based on the competitive immunoassay principle and performed using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay on the automated cobas e 801 immunochemistry analyzer. Patient's sample is pretreated first with a reducing reagent, and after the addition of synthetic HBc antigen (HBcAg), complexes are formed with anti-HBc present in the sample. The remaining unbound sites on the HBcAg become occupied with the added biotinylated antibodies and ruthenium complex-labeled antibodies specific for HBcAg. The entire complex binds to the streptavidin-coated microparticles (solid phase) via interaction of biotin and streptavidin. The reaction mixture is then aspirated into the measuring cell where the microparticles are magnetically captured onto the surface of the electrode. After unbound substances are washed away, voltage is applied to the electrode that induces chemiluminescent emissions which are measured by a photomultiplier. The test result is determined by comparing the electrochemiluminescence signal generated from the reaction product in the sample to the cutoff index (COI) value set from reagent lot-specific assay calibration.(Package insert: Elecsys Anti-HBc II. Roche Diagnostics; v1.0, 04/2022)
Report Available
Same day/1 to 3 daysSpecimen Retention Time
14 daysReject Due To
| Gross hemolysis | Reject |
| Gross lipemia | Reject |
| Gross icterus | Reject |
| Heat-inactivated specimen | Reject |
Method Name
Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay (ECLIA)
Secondary ID
8347Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send 1 of the following forms with the specimen:
Testing Algorithm
For more information see Hepatitis B: Testing Algorithm for Screening, Diagnosis, and Management.
Highlights
This diagnostic test should be used to test symptomatic individuals suspected with viral hepatitis.