Hepatitis B Core Total Ab

Serum and plasma should be separated from the cells within 2 hours from the time of collection.

HBCT

Hepatitis B Core Antigen Antibody

1.0 mL Serum - SST - Gold Top

50 uL

Serum- Red Top or Tiger Top
Plasma- Lithium Heparin (PST)

Plasma- EDTA (Lavender)

Refrigerated

Room temperature: N/A
Refrigerated: 5 days at 2-8 deg C
Frozen: 2 months at -20 deg C; Samples may be frozen and thawed up to 4 times.
Timing considerations: serum and plasma should be separated from the cells within 2 horus from the time of collection.

Samples not labeled with complete first and last name and date of birth
Grossly hemolyzed

Sun - Sat

Same day

Non-reactive

This assay intended for the in vitro qualitative determination of total antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti HBc) in human serum and plasma in adult patients with the symptoms of hepatitis or who may be at risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The detection of total anti HBc is indicative of a laboratory diagnosis for HBV infection.
The hepatitis B virus consists of an outer envelope containing host-derived lipids and all S gene polypeptides, the large (L), middle (M), and small (S) surface proteins, also known as pre S1, pre S2 and HBsAg. The nucleocapsid contains core proteins HBcAg, a 3.2 kb, circular, partially double stranded viral DNA genome, an endogenous DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase) enzyme, and protein kinase activity. The hepatitis core antigen comprises 183 185 amino acids. During an infection with the hepatitis B virus, antibodies to HBcAg are generally formed, which often persist for life. Anti HBc appears shortly after the onset of infection with hepatitis B virus and can usually be detected in serum soon after the appearance of HBsAg. Anti HBc antibodies persist both in persons who have recovered from a hepatitis B infection and in those who develop HBsAg-carrier status. Accordingly, they are an indicator of existing or past hepatitis B infection.
In rare cases, an HBV infection can also run its course without the appearance of immunologically detectable anti HBc (usually in immunosuppressed patients). Due to the long persistence of anti HBc following a hepatitis B viral infection, screening for HBV infection may be accompanied by testing for the presence of hepatitis B core antibodies as long as those who test positive are further tested for both HBsAg and anti HBs to differentiate infection from immunity. Determination of anti HBc in association with other hepatitis B tests permits the diagnosis and monitoring of HBV infections. In the absence of other hepatitis B markers (HBsAg-negative persons), anti HBc may be the only indication of an existing hepatitis B viral infection.