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22714 Hepatitis Be Antigen and Antibody (HEAG)

Hepatitis Be Antigen and Antibody (HEAG)
Test Code: HEP-BE
Synonyms/Keywords
Hepatitis Be Profile
HEAG
HBe profile
Anti-HBe profile
HBe antigen profile
HBeAg profile
Useful For
​Determining infectivity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers
 
Monitoring infection status of chronically HBV-infected patients
 
Monitoring serologic response of chronically HBV-infected patients receiving antiviral therapy
 
Determining the levels of both hepatitis B e antigen and antibody
Specimen Requirements
Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​Serum Serum Separator Tube (SST)​ ​ 1.5 mL​ 1.0 mL​ ​
Collection Processing Instructions

​Spin down and immediately remove serum from clot.  Submit sample in a plastic vial.

Additional Information:
1. Date of draw is required.
2. For 24 hours before specimen collection do not take multivitamins or dietary supplements containing biotin (vitamin B7), which is commonly found in hair, skin, and nail supplements and multivitamins.
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum​ ​ ​ Frozen (preferred)​ ​​28 days
Refrigerated ​ 7 days​
Ambient ​ 24 hours​
Rejection Criteria
Gross hemolysis
​Gross lipemia
​Gross icterus
Interference

​Biotin (vitamin B7) is a common ingredient in multivitamins and dietary supplements to enhance hair, nail, and skin growth. Biotin can interfere with the assay performance and cause possible false-negative hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and false-positive HBe antibody (anti-HBe) results. Patients should be instructed to stop taking such multivitamins and dietary supplements for at least 24 hours prior to blood collection.

Disappearance of HBeAg or appearance of anti-HBe in serum does not completely rule-out chronic hepatitis B carrier state or infectivity.

Performance characteristics of these 2 assays have not been established in patients under the age of 2 or in populations of immunocompromised or immunosuppressed patients. These 2 assays are not licensed by FDA for testing cord blood samples or screening donors of blood, plasma, human cell, or tissue products.

Performance characteristics have not been established for the following specimen characteristics:

-Grossly icteric (total bilirubin level of >20 mg/dL)

-Grossly lipemic (triolein level of >3000 mg/dL)

-Grossly hemolyzed (hemoglobin level of >61 mg/dL)

-Specimen containing particulate matter

Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Mayo Clinic Laboratories​
Monday through Saturday​
1-2 days​
Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CIA)​
Reference Lab
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
Test Information

​Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) is a small polypeptide that exists in a free form in the serum of individuals during the early phase of hepatitis B infection, soon after hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) becomes detectable. Serum levels of both HBeAg and HBsAg rise rapidly during the period of viral replication. The presence of HBeAg in serum correlates with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infectivity, the number of infectious virions, and the presence of HBV core antigen in the infected hepatocytes.

During recovery from acute hepatitis B, HBeAg level declines and becomes undetectable in the serum, while hepatitis B e antibody (anti-HBe) appears and becomes detectable in the serum. Anti-HBe usually remains detectable for many years after recovery from acute HBV infection.

In HBV carriers and patients with chronic hepatitis B, positive HBeAg results usually indicate presence of active HBV replication and high infectivity. A negative HBeAg result indicates very minimal or no HBV replication. Positive anti-HBe results usually indicate inactivity of the virus and low infectivity. Positive anti-HBe results in the presence of detectable HBV DNA in serum also indicate active viral replication in these patients.

Reference Range Information
​Negative
Interpretation
​Presence of hepatitis Be (HBe) antigen and absence of HBe antibody usually indicate active hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and high infectivity.
 
Absence of HBe antigen with appearance of HBe antibody is consistent with loss of HBV infectivity.
 
Although resolution of chronic HBV infection generally follows appearance of HBe antibody, the HBV carrier state may persist.
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
86707​ ​ ​ Hepatitis Be antibody​ ​
87350​ ​ ​ Hepatitis Be antigen​ ​
Synonyms/Keywords
Hepatitis Be Profile
HEAG
HBe profile
Anti-HBe profile
HBe antigen profile
HBeAg profile
Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Description
​Centricity ​Hep. Be Ag. & Ab.
​Cerner None​
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​Serum Serum Separator Tube (SST)​ ​ 1.5 mL​ 1.0 mL​ ​
Collection Processing

​Spin down and immediately remove serum from clot.  Submit sample in a plastic vial.

Additional Information:
1. Date of draw is required.
2. For 24 hours before specimen collection do not take multivitamins or dietary supplements containing biotin (vitamin B7), which is commonly found in hair, skin, and nail supplements and multivitamins.
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum​ ​ ​ Frozen (preferred)​ ​​28 days
Refrigerated ​ 7 days​
Ambient ​ 24 hours​
Rejection Criteria
Gross hemolysis
​Gross lipemia
​Gross icterus
Interference

​Biotin (vitamin B7) is a common ingredient in multivitamins and dietary supplements to enhance hair, nail, and skin growth. Biotin can interfere with the assay performance and cause possible false-negative hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and false-positive HBe antibody (anti-HBe) results. Patients should be instructed to stop taking such multivitamins and dietary supplements for at least 24 hours prior to blood collection.

Disappearance of HBeAg or appearance of anti-HBe in serum does not completely rule-out chronic hepatitis B carrier state or infectivity.

Performance characteristics of these 2 assays have not been established in patients under the age of 2 or in populations of immunocompromised or immunosuppressed patients. These 2 assays are not licensed by FDA for testing cord blood samples or screening donors of blood, plasma, human cell, or tissue products.

Performance characteristics have not been established for the following specimen characteristics:

-Grossly icteric (total bilirubin level of >20 mg/dL)

-Grossly lipemic (triolein level of >3000 mg/dL)

-Grossly hemolyzed (hemoglobin level of >61 mg/dL)

-Specimen containing particulate matter

Useful For
​Determining infectivity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers
 
Monitoring infection status of chronically HBV-infected patients
 
Monitoring serologic response of chronically HBV-infected patients receiving antiviral therapy
 
Determining the levels of both hepatitis B e antigen and antibody
Reference Range Information
​Negative
Interpretation
​Presence of hepatitis Be (HBe) antigen and absence of HBe antibody usually indicate active hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and high infectivity.
 
Absence of HBe antigen with appearance of HBe antibody is consistent with loss of HBV infectivity.
 
Although resolution of chronic HBV infection generally follows appearance of HBe antibody, the HBV carrier state may persist.
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Mayo Clinic Laboratories​
Monday through Saturday​
1-2 days​
Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CIA)​
Reference Lab
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
86707​ ​ ​ Hepatitis Be antibody​ ​
87350​ ​ ​ Hepatitis Be antigen​ ​
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.