Hepatitis B Core IgM Antibody (Sendout)

Useful For:

• Diagnosis of acute hepatitis B infection
• Identifying acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the serologic window period when hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antihepatitis B surface (anti-HBs) are negative
• Differentiation between acute and chronic or past hepatitis B infection in the presence of positive antihepatitis B core.

Patient Preparation: For 24 hours before this test, the patient should avoid multivitamins or dietary supplements containing biotin (vitamin B7), which is commonly found in hair, skin, and nail supplements and multivitamins.

Reference Range: Negative

Interpretation: A positive result indicates recent acute hepatitis B infection. A negative result suggests lack of recent exposure to the virus in preceding 6 months.

Cautions:

The predictive value of a positive anti-hepatitis B core IgM test result is low when used to test specimens from patients with low prevalence of acute hepatitis B virus infection.

Performance characteristics have not been established for the following specimen characteristics:

• Grossly icteric (total bilirubin level of >20 mg/dL)
• Grossly lipemic (triolein level of >3000 mg/dL)
• Grossly hemolyzed (hemoglobin level of >500 mg/dL)
• Containing particulate matter
• Cadaveric specimens

3 mL blood in GOLD SST tube

Also Accepted: RED TOP tube

Outside Laboratories: Centrifuge sample and transfer serum to a separate plastic vial. Freeze serum at -20°C while awaiting transport. Ship on dry ice.

Stability: Frozen (preferred): 90 days; Refrigerated: 6 days; Ambient: 72 hours.

Reject due to: Gross hemolysis, lipemia, icterus.

Centrifuge sample and transfer serum to a separate plastic vial. Freeze serum at -20°C.

Virology Lab: Samples for both UW-MT and HMC patients should be forwarded to UW-MT Sendouts Department.

Sendouts:

• Order Mayo Test: HBIM
• Interfaced: Yes [Interface: 601; Worksheet: MAFZ]

Stability: Frozen (preferred): 90 days; Refrigerated: 6 days; Ambient: 72 hours.

Reject due to: Gross hemolysis, lipemia, icterus.