Virology / Serology - Hepatitis
- DHHS Hepatitis Serology Form #3722 (PDF, 208 KB)
- Packing Instructions Using Outer Baggie (PDF, 1.7 MB)
Hepatitis B serologies are available on a limited basis for diagnosis of acute and chronic disease, for monitoring the course of disease and the effectiveness of therapy, and for screening select patient populations. Hepatitis A IgM testing is available on a limited basis for the diagnosis of acute disease.
Three types of testing panels are available: diagnostic, screening, and monitoring.
Specimen Acceptance Policy
Serologic testing for hepatitis infection is available only to patients who are seen in local health departments and state-operated health care facilities. Only serum may be submitted for serologic testing. Specimens submitted to the Virology/Serology Unit must be accompanied by a fully completed submission DHHS Hepatitis Serology Form #3722 (PDF, 208 KB). Failure to supply the requested patient information may result in significantly delayed specimen testing.
Specimens submitted for testing that are not labeled with the correct patient identification information will not be tested. Specimens which, for any reason, are deemed unsuitable or inappropriate for serologic testing will not be tested. Rejected specimens will be properly stored for ten days pending verbal and/or written notification of the submitter. Unless alternate arrangements are initiated by the submitter upon notification of specimen rejection, the specimen will be discarded at the end of the holding period.
Specimen Collection
A full 3 mL of serum should be submitted for hepatitis testing. Aseptically collect whole blood in a red top tube or in a serum separator tube. Let specimen stand 30 minutes to ensure complete clotting of the blood. Centrifuge for 5-10 minutes at 1,000-1,500 x g. Transfer serum to a well constructed plastic screw capped vial with threads on the outside. Serum transport tubes should not be overfilled past the 3.0 mL line in the tubes. Excessively hemolyzed, grossly contaminated, or extremely lipemic sera are unacceptable for hepatitis assays. Specimens that are not acceptable for testing will be reported as UNSATISFACTORY.
Clearly label each vial of serum with the patient's full first and last name and either SSN or date of birth. Complete a submission form DHHS Hepatitis Serology Form #3722 (PDF, 208 KB). All items on this form must be completed before the specimen can be processed.
Specimen Shipping
Properly identified vials of patient sera along with the completed submission forms should be sent in buff colored specimen mailers labeled HEP SEROLOGY. For detailed shipping instructions using the double mailers, see Packing Instructions Using Outer Baggie (PDF, 1.7 MB). Ship at ambient temperature by the State Courier or U.S. Mail. Specimens should be shipped immediately and should arrive in the laboratory within 48 hours of collection. If transport to the laboratory is to be delayed, specimens can be refrigerated up to seven days or frozen.
Serum transport tubes and buff colored specimen mailers are available through the NCSLPH online supply ordering system at this website. DHHS Hepatitis Serology Form #3722 (PDF, 208 KB) may be downloaded and printed from this website.
Reporting and Interpretation
The following chart provides information regarding turn-around-times and interpretations
| Test | Test Method | Negative Reference Range | Turn-Around-Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis B virus surface antigen | EIA-Qualitative Screen | Antigen not detected | 4 working days |
| Hepatitis B virus surface antigen | EIA-Confirmatory | Interpreted by report | 7 working days |
| Hepatitis B virus core-IgM antibody | EIA-Qualitative | No antibody detected | 7 working days |
| Hepatitis B virus core-total antibody | EIA-Qualitative | No antibody detected | 7 working days |
| Hepatitis B virus surface antibody | EIA-Qualitative | No antibody detected | 7 working days |
| Hepatitis A virus IgM antibody | EIA-Qualitative | No antibody detected | 2 working days |
Testing Availability
Hepatitis B virus testing is available to the following patient populations:
- Symptomatic patients
- Prenatal patients
- Refugees
- Sexual or needle sharing contacts of known infected persons
- Patients who are household contacts of hepatitis B carriers and are candidates for vaccine
- Infants born to infected mothers
- Known previous HBsAg positives
- Previously vaccinated health department employees with percutaneous exposure to hepatitis B virus
- Source patient of percutaneous exposure
Hepatitis A virus serology is available to patients who are:
- Symptomatic without an epidemiological link to another case of known hepatitis A infection
- Suspected cases, whether or not epidemiologically-linked, who are:
- food handlers
- health care workers
- day care attendees
- day care workers
- at risk of liver disease through IV drug abuse, alcohol abuse, etc.
- Associated with an outbreak situation (prior approval required)
Routine testing for either hepatitis A or B is limited to those groups listed above; however, if you have special needs that are not addressed in the acceptance criteria, please call (919) 733-7544. Special arrangements for testing can be made on an individual basis.
NOTE: Hepatitis B immune status testing will not be performed to determine immune status of health care workers, dental workers, etc. who are candidates for routine vaccination or to establish routine post-vaccination immunity.
See also:
- About Virology/Serology
- Virus Culture
- Rabies Virus
- Chlamydia/Gonorrhea
- HIV
- Hepatitis
- Syphilis
- Special Serology
- CDC Referral
- Arbovirus
- Norovirus
