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Order Code HBsAg Hepatitis B Surface Antigen

Additional Codes

Epic Order ID IMO49

Sub activity Type

Immunology

Collection tube (preferred)

SST preferred

Lithium heparin  is an alternative specimen type, however if the screen is not negative and needs to be sent on for confirmation testing the patient will need to have a recollection done as plasma is not acceptable for the confirmatory test

Specimen Type

Serum preferred

Lithium heparin plasma is an alternative specimen type, however if the screen is not negative and needs to be sent on for confirmation testing the patient will need to have a recollection done as plasma is not acceptable for the confirmatory test

Minimum Volume

0.6 ml

Stability

14 days at 2-8°C

Transport temperature

Refrigerated

Transport Container

Serum Separator Tube (SST)

Rejection Criteria

Grossly hemolyzed or lipemic

Performance

Performed Daily

Clinical Significance

Surface antigen usually appears in the serum after an incubation period of 1 to 6 months following exposure to Hepatitis B virus and peaks shortly after onset of symptoms. It typically disappears within 1 to 3 months. Persistence of Hepatitis B surface antigen for greater than 6 months is a prognostic indicator of chronic Hepatitis B infection.

Reference Range

Non-reactive