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What Is Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) Testing?
When you have chronic hepatitis B, a blood test called hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) can help your doctor tell if your virus is suppressed or active, which influences your treatment plan.
Getting the Right Hepatitis B Care Starts With the Right Testing
While one test is just a snapshot, all your tests together show the big picture. And loss of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is one goal for treatment, and a step closer to functional cure
Quantitative Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Tests:
Give you and your doctor a specific number to track your chronic hepatitis B status and inform your treatment plan.
Qualitative Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Tests:
Usually done once to diagnose you with the hepatitis B virus.
What More Could You Learn From Quantitative Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Testing?
Take this short, 4-question quiz to find out.
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Knowing Your Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) Numbers
If you're managing your chronic hepatitis B, you may want to better understand your HBsAg test numbers.
The amount of hepatitis B surface antigen in your blood can help predict your risks and make treatment decisions with your doctor.
Making Sense of Your Quantitative HBsAg Results
Higher Numbers
Research shows that people with higher quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels may have a higher risk of liver cancer and liver damage.
Decreasing Numbers
A downward trend shows that your immune system and treatment are reducing the viral load. The lower the number, the better.
Talk to your doctor about your HBsAg numbers
Ask your doctor what your numbers mean for your long-term care plan.
What is a Functional Cure in Hepatitis B?
Functional cure means your hepatitis B virus is controlled while off therapy. It’s achieved when all three of the following occur:
1. Your doctor can no longer detect hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) with a test while off treatment.
2. Your HBV DNA levels have remained undetectable while off treatment.
3. You’ve been off treatment for 6 months.
A functional cure is an important step forward in managing hepatitis B. While it shows that the virus is well controlled, it does not mean hepatitis B is completely gone from the body.
A New Destination for People With Hepatitis B
A functional cure is increasingly recognized as a treatment goal because it offers people a life without daily hepatitis B medication.
Hepatitis B Support & Resources
From our Doctor Discussion Guide to FAQs, discover resources designed to help you feel both informed and prepared.
Stay Informed
Sign up for hepatitis B educational resources, support tools, and more. And get notifications via email as soon as they become available.
Qualitative
This test simply answers Yes or No.
What It Tells Your Doctor:
- Whether you've been exposed to HBV
- Whether you're currently infected
Quantitative
Goes beyond a positive or negative result to give you and your doctor a precise number to track your chronic hepatitis B status and inform your treatment plan.
What It Tells Your Doctor:
Whether you are at an increased risk of liver cancer or liver damage.
Explore the GSK Help Center website to find customer service support and contact information.