Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
Private Hepatitis B Surface Antigen testing in London for £48, detecting one marker associated with current Hepatitis B infection.
Turnaround time
1 business day
Biomarkers count
1
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Overview of the Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Test
The Hepatitis B Surface Antigen blood test detects Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, commonly abbreviated to HBsAg, in the bloodstream.
The test contains 1 biomarker: Hepatitis B Surface Antigen.
HBsAg is a viral protein present on the outer surface of Hepatitis B Virus.
When HBsAg is detectable in blood, it generally indicates that Hepatitis B Virus is currently present.
The marker can occur during both acute and chronic Hepatitis B infection.
This means a positive HBsAg result alone cannot determine whether infection was acquired recently or has been present for a prolonged period.
Other Hepatitis B markers are required to establish the infection stage.
IgM Hepatitis B Core Antibody can support diagnosis of acute or recently acquired infection.
Total Hepatitis B Core Antibody shows previous or ongoing natural viral exposure.
Hepatitis B Surface Antibody provides information about immunity following vaccination or recovery from infection.
HBV DNA measures viral genetic material and can provide information about viral replication and viraemia.
Persistence of HBsAg over time can support a diagnosis of chronic Hepatitis B, but this requires appropriate longitudinal assessment rather than one isolated result.
A recently administered Hepatitis B vaccination can occasionally produce transient HBsAg reactivity, so vaccination timing should be considered if a result is unexpected.
Because Hepatitis B can remain asymptomatic for many years, HBsAg is widely used in screening, antenatal assessment, occupational settings and investigations of abnormal liver tests.
What Does the Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Test Check?
The test detects a surface protein of Hepatitis B Virus that is associated with current viral infection. This test measures 1 biomarker.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
Detects HBsAg in blood, an important marker of current Hepatitis B infection that can be present during both acute and chronic disease.
Who May Benefit From the Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Test?
HBsAg testing may be appropriate during routine screening, following possible exposure or when current Hepatitis B infection needs to be excluded.
People following a possible blood or needle exposure - Hepatitis B can be transmitted through infected blood.
People with a sexual partner who has Hepatitis B - Sexual transmission is an established route of infection.
People undergoing routine blood-borne virus or STI screening - Hepatitis B can occur without symptoms.
People with unexplained abnormal liver enzymes - HBV is one possible cause of liver inflammation.
Pregnant women requiring Hepatitis B screening - HBsAg is an important marker in antenatal infection assessment.
People from regions where Hepatitis B is more prevalent - Screening can identify previously unrecognised chronic infection.
People requiring occupational-health screening - HBsAg may be included according to workplace or clinical requirements.
People with a previous positive Hepatitis B marker - Surface Antigen helps assess whether current infection is present.
People with an immunosuppressive treatment plan and previous HBV risk - Appropriate HBV assessment can be important before selected therapies.
How to Prepare
Do not assume vaccination immunity from an HBsAg result.
Hepatitis B immunity is assessed using Hepatitis B Surface Antibody rather than Surface Antigen.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Test
Hepatitis B frequently causes no symptoms, particularly during chronic infection.
No symptoms following a recognised exposure - Asymptomatic infection is possible.
Jaundice - Acute Hepatitis B can cause yellowing of the skin and eyes.
Dark urine - Increased Bilirubin can darken urine.
Pale stools - Significant hepatitis can alter bile excretion.
Loss of appetite - Acute viral hepatitis often causes reduced appetite.
Nausea or vomiting - Gastrointestinal symptoms may occur.
Marked fatigue - Acute or chronic liver disease can cause significant tiredness.
Right upper abdominal discomfort - Liver inflammation can cause pain or discomfort beneath the right ribs.
Persistently abnormal liver enzymes - Viral hepatitis may need to be excluded.
Hepatitis B can be present without symptoms, so absence of jaundice or illness does not reliably exclude infection.
Severe jaundice, persistent vomiting, confusion, bleeding or other signs of serious liver dysfunction require prompt medical assessment.
How to Book Your Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Test
The Hepatitis B Surface Antigen test can be booked privately for confidential current-infection screening.
Choose the Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
Select the individual HBsAg blood test online.
Select your sample collection option
Choose an in-clinic blood draw or professional home or hotel phlebotomy where appropriate.
Attend your appointment
A trained healthcare professional collects the required venous blood sample.
Laboratory analysis
Your serum is analysed for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen.
Receive your results securely
Your authorised result is delivered securely, with wider Hepatitis B assessment recommended where a reactive result requires staging.
When Will I Receive My Results?
The current London Blood Tests turnaround for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen is approximately 1 day after the sample reaches the laboratory.
HBsAg is a routinely performed viral-hepatitis screening marker.
The laboratory completes antigen analysis, quality-control procedures and result authorisation before reporting.
Turnaround begins from laboratory receipt rather than necessarily from the exact time your blood is collected.
A reactive result may require confirmatory analysis and wider Hepatitis B serology.
Where further testing is required, the complete diagnostic process may take longer than the initial one-day HBsAg result.
Understanding Your Results
A negative result means Hepatitis B Surface Antigen was not detected at the assay threshold.
This means there is no evidence of HBsAg-positive current infection at the time of testing.
It does not tell you whether you are immune to Hepatitis B.
A positive result indicates that HBsAg is present and therefore supports current Hepatitis B infection.
The infection may be acute or chronic.
Additional testing is required to establish the stage and activity of infection.
IgM Core Antibody can support assessment of acute infection, while Total Core Antibody, Surface Antibody and HBV DNA provide additional information.
Persistent HBsAg over the appropriate clinical timeframe is consistent with chronic infection.
A recently vaccinated person can very occasionally show transient HBsAg positivity, which should be considered when a result is unexpected.
Why Book With London Blood Tests?
London Blood Tests provides confidential private HBsAg screening with rapid laboratory turnaround.
Detects current Hepatitis B infection - HBsAg is a central marker used in HBV assessment.
Relevant to acute and chronic infection - Surface Antigen can occur during both stages.
Suitable for asymptomatic screening - Chronic Hepatitis B frequently causes no obvious symptoms.
Useful after blood or sexual exposure - Can form part of an appropriate post-exposure assessment.
Relevant to antenatal and occupational screening - HBsAg is widely used in established clinical pathways.
Fast results - Current turnaround is approximately 1 day.
Professional blood collection - Clinic and suitable mobile phlebotomy options are available.
Clear pricing - The Hepatitis B Surface Antigen test costs £48.
Private Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Blood Test in London
London Blood Tests provides private Hepatitis B Surface Antigen testing for people requiring confidential screening for current Hepatitis B infection.
The test costs £48 and measures 1 biomarker.
Results are expected approximately 1 day after laboratory receipt.
A positive result should be followed by appropriate wider Hepatitis B serology and clinical assessment to determine whether infection is acute or chronic and whether further monitoring is required.