HBsAg Card

Infection with Hepatitis B (HB) virus results in the appearance of a number of serological markers and one of the first of such markers is Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) . The HB virus infection causes a wide variety of liver damages such as acute self-limiting infection, fulminating hepatitis, chronic hepatitis with progression to cirrhosis and liver failure, and a symptomatic chronic carrier state. This infection of the liver is transmitted by homosexual or heterosexual activity, blood borne exposure, mother-infant, close personal contact and by intake of contaminated water and food products. In the HB virus infected people, the virus persists for the rest of their lives and can be passed on to others. Therefore HB has become a global public health problem HBsAg appears 1-7 weeks before biochemical evidence of liver disease or jaundice. Three weeks after the onset of acute hepatitis almost half of the patients will still be positive for HBsAg. In the chronic carrier state, the HBsAg persists for long periods (6-12 months) with no seroconversion to the corresponding antibodies. Therefore, screening for HBsAg is highly desirable for all donors, pregnant women and people in high-risk groups.