THIS ASSAY AIDS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE OR CHRONIC HEPATITIS B INFECTION AND ALSO IN INDIVIDUALS DISPLAYING SIGNS OF HEPATITIS IN AN UNKNOWN ETIOLOGY. IT ALSO HELPS TO DETERMINE THE CLINICAL STATUS OF HBV INFECTED INDIVIDUALS IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER HBV SEROLOGICAL MARKERS ASSOCIATED WITH HBV INFECTION.

THIS TEST DETECTS ANTIBODIES TO THE HEPATITIS C VIRUS (HCV) USING A SENSITIVE AND SPECIFIC METHOD. A POSITIVE RESULT INDICATES EXPOSURE TO THE VIRUS AND SUGGESTS A CURRENT OR PAST INFECTION. FURTHER TESTING IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE IF THE INFECTION IS ACTIVE.

THE PRESENCE OF HBSAG INDICATES AN ACTIVE INFECTION WITH THE HEPATITIS B VIRUS. THIS COULD BE A NEW (ACUTE) OR LONG-TERM (CHRONIC) INFECTION. ITS THE PRIMARY TEST USED TO DIAGNOSE ACTIVE HBV INFECTION.