The Doctor Is In Q and A: Hepatitis B and an HBV Surface
Antigen Positive (HBsAg+) Test Result
”I have been infected with the hepatitis B virus for more
30 years with no symptoms at all. The blood test results
consistently present as follows:
Answer by Mack Mitchell, MD
As long as the HBsAg is positive, then there is a potential for infection.
It is probably very low if the HBV DNA is undetectable.
However, the level of sensitivity of this test is only 100
copies/ml for the best tests and 400 copies/ml for others,
so it is possible to have small amounts of virus remaining.
For
that reason all family members and intimate contacts should
be vaccinated. It is unlikely, although possible,
that reactivation of the infection can occur in the future.
This usually happens if your immune system is suppressed
for any reason, either because of other illnesses or because
of medications used to treat other illnesses. This
has caused problems in some people. For that reason,
it is best to check HBV DNA and ALT
at least once or twice each year.
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