Patient's question:
I would like to ask about the results of the recent liver disease population census. The results are as follows: HbsAg [positive for hepatitis B surface antigen]. Could you please tell me if this means hepatitis? Will it be infectious?Doctor's answer:
After being infected with the hepatitis B virus for 2 and 6 months, a positive result for hepatitis B surface antigen can be detected in the serum 2 to 8 weeks before the decline of alanine aminotransferase. Most acute hepatitis B patients can turn negative in the early stages of the disease, while chronic hepatitis B patients may continue to show a positive result for this indicator. A positive hepatitis B surface antigen alone cannot determine the level of transmissibility, as it primarily depends on the copy level of the virus within the liver. If the virus is highly active, a large number of viral particles are released into the bloodstream, making the blood highly infectious. It is recommended to check for hepatitis B e antigen and core antibody, and to retest for the five hepatitis B markers after 1 to 2 weeks.