Hepatitis B core antibody blood test in Chiswick

What the test measures

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver and is passed on through blood and other body fluids, for example during sex without a condom, by sharing needles, or from mother to baby. Some people clear the virus on their own, while others go on to have a long-term infection.

The core antibody is produced only after a real infection, not after vaccination. This makes it a useful way to tell whether your body has ever met the virus. The test measures both IgM, which appears early and points to a recent infection, and IgG, which develops later and usually stays for life. Testing is confidential and non-judgemental.

The price includes your sample taken at our Chiswick clinic, analysis at the Randox accredited laboratory, a review of your result with an Omnia practitioner, and a GP feedback report on request.

Who it is for

• You want to know whether you have ever had hepatitis B.
• You have had a positive hepatitis B surface antigen result and need further detail.
• You were born or have lived in a country where hepatitis B is common.
• You are about to start a medicine that suppresses the immune system, which can reactivate past infection.
• You have had a possible exposure and your practitioner has suggested this test with others.

Understanding your result

Your report shows whether core antibodies were detected. A positive IgM result suggests a recent infection. A positive core antibody with negative surface antigen usually means a past infection that has cleared, although it can occasionally indicate an infection that is still present at low levels. A negative core antibody suggests you have not had hepatitis B, and a vaccinated person will also test negative.

Core antibodies take time to appear after exposure, so the window period for a reliable result is around three months. The full picture usually needs the surface antigen and surface antibody as well. Any flagged result is explained in context and is never a diagnosis alone.

Preparing for your test

You can eat normally and keep taking your regular medicines. Tell us the date of any possible exposure so that we can advise whether to test now or wait. If you are about to start chemotherapy, biological treatments or other immune-suppressing medicines, mention this when you book so your practitioner can suggest the right combination of tests.

Our STI and hepatitis tests include the hepatitis B surface antigen, and the Hepatitis B Immunity test checks protection after vaccination. Take a look at every blood test and price in Chiswick to see how this fits.

Questions

How much is a hepatitis B core antibody test in Chiswick?

The Hepatitis B Core Antibody test costs £159 at Omnia Lifestyle in Chiswick. This includes your blood sample, analysis at the Randox accredited laboratory, a confidential practitioner review and a GP feedback report on request.

Will vaccination make this test positive?

No. The vaccine produces surface antibodies, not core antibodies, so a positive core antibody result means you have had a natural infection.

Does a positive result mean I am infectious?

Not necessarily. Many people with core antibodies have cleared the virus. Further tests, such as the surface antigen, show whether infection is current.

How long after exposure should I wait?

Core antibodies can take several weeks to appear, so testing about three months after exposure gives the most reliable result.