Update on hepatitis B and C virus diagnosis

Table 1 Clinical significance of hepatitis B virus serological markers

Marker	Clinical significance
HBsAg	First marker to appear in course of infection
	Appears one to 3 wk before the onset of symptoms
	The permanence of this marker for more than 24 wk indicates chronicity
Anti-HBc IgM	Marker of recent infection marker
	Appears with the onset of symptoms and persists up to 32 wk after infection
Anti-HBc IgG	This marker did not indicate immunity and it is not elicited by vaccination
	This presence indicates prior contact with the virus
HBeAg	It appears before the onset of symptoms and indicates viral replication independent of disease phase (acute or chronic)
	This presence indicates high infectivity
Anti-HBe	It appears after the disappearance of HBeAg
	Their presence suggests reduction or absence of viral replication, except when infection is due to HBV strains with pre-core mutant (not producing the protein “e”)
Anti-HBs	It appears one to 3 mo after HBV vaccination or after recovery of HBV acute infection and indicates immunity to HBV infection

HBV: Hepatitis B virus; HBeAg: Hepatitis Be Antigen; HBsAg: Hepatitis B surface antigen; Anti-HBe: Antibodies against HBeAg; Anti-HBs: Antibodies against HBsAg.