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Ask the Experts about Hepatitis and HIV Coinfection
What does it mean
Aug 8, 2008
if you are positive for hepatitus bs ab what does that neam
Response from Dr. McGovern
Hepatitis B surface antibodies mean that you are protected against infection.
You may be positive for Hepatitis B surface antibodies from two different ways:
1. You may have been immunized in the past
2. You may have been infected in the past, but cleared the virus. But you are not at risk of getting reinfected.
The way you figure out which way you developed surface antibodies is by getting an additional test for Hepatitis B core antibodies.
If the core are positive, then you were infected in the past
If the core are negative, then you were immunized in the past.
Hope this is helpful to you and other readers.
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