What does hepatitis B core antibody mean?

Many friends do not understand the hepatitis B core antibody and do not know what this expression means. In fact, the hepatitis B core antibody refers to the corresponding antibody of the hepatitis B virus. Generally, its existence may also indicate the invasion of the hepatitis B virus. Therefore, friends must pay attention to it and do corresponding examinations in time to avoid varying degrees of liver damage.

What is Hepatitis B Core Antibody

Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) is the corresponding antibody to the hepatitis B virus core antigen. It is not a protective antibody. Instead, its presence is one of the indicators of being attacked by the hepatitis B virus. It includes three types: IgM, IgA, and IgG. IgM type is an important indicator for determining acute hepatitis B. It is the earliest specific antibody to appear in the blood after the body is infected with the hepatitis B virus and generally lasts for 3-6 months. If the HBcAb-IgM titer remains high, it indicates that hepatitis B has a tendency to become chronic. If the HBcAb-IgM titer is high in patients with chronic active hepatitis B, it means that the hepatitis B virus is actively replicating in the body, which is one of the indicators of strong infectivity. HBcAb-IgG appears later and is not a protective antibody. The detection of HBcAb-IgG is of epidemiological survey significance.

1. HBV replication indicators:

The presence of high titers of hepatitis B core antibodies often indicates HBV replication in the body.

2. HBV infection indicators:

In the diagnosis and differentiation of hepatitis B, when the antibody titers of two sera are compared, if the antibody titer of the convalescent serum increases by 4 times or more than that of the acute serum, HBV infection can be diagnosed. Hepatitis B core antibody is also of great significance in the diagnosis of viral hepatitis typing.

3. When the hepatitis B core antibody is positive, it indicates a past infection or current infection with hepatitis B. The standard of distinction is to further examine the two types of core antibodies: core body IgM and IgG.

A high titer of hepatitis B core antibody IgM is an important indicator of acute or recent infection. It may also be positive during the active phase of chronic hepatitis, indicating that the hepatitis B virus is replicating and is contagious.

Core antibody IgG can persist for several years to decades and is a sign of past infection with the hepatitis B virus, indicating that the patient has now recovered.