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Why Testing Matters
Seek More Information on More Complete Testing
If you’re living with chronic hepatitis B, more complete testing helps you and your doctor look at markers of hepatitis B virus activity, also called biomarkers, to gain a clearer picture of disease progression and risk of liver-related outcomes.
What Are Biomarkers?
Biomarkers are signs in your body that doctors look for to see how your health is doing.
Think of these biomarkers as a compass guiding your chronic hepatitis B journey. They show your doctor where you stand, so together you can map out the best path forward.
Biomarkers help your doctor discover issues and create a plan.
What Does More Complete Testing Involve?
It starts by partnering with your doctor and considering the right tests ( guideline recommended ) at the right times.
If you’re living with chronic hepatitis B, most likely you’ve taken the following three tests at some point:
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) Test
As part of more complete testing, your doctor may also recommend testing for a biomarker called hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).
What it is: HBsAg is a protein found on the surface of the hepatitis B virus.
What it tells your doctor: There are two types of tests for HBsAg—Qualitative and Quantitative.
While qualitative HBsAg testing is used to first diagnose your chronic hepatitis B, quantitative HBsAg testing is becoming more commonly used by doctors to monitor the virus.
Quantitative
The amount of the protein in your blood shows how active your infection is.
A Decrease in or Undetectable HBsAg Levels Means You’re on the Right Track
Lower numbers mean you may have a lower risk of liver cancer and liver damage.
Why Hepatitis B Testing Matters
More complete testing helps you and your doctor understand how active the virus is at a given time, understand your risk of liver cancer or liver damage, and help inform your best path forward.
Should You Consider Quantitative HBsAg Testing?
Answer these simple 4 Yes or No questions to see if talking to your doctor about quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen testing is right for you.
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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.
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