Individuals who may be at risk for hepatitis B should ask their doctor about a simple blood test that will confirm a hepatitis B diagnosis.
Take the Hepatitis B Risk Assessment Test to determine if you are at high risk of acquiring hepatitis B.
When you are tested for the hepatitis B virus, a medical professional will test your blood for the HB surface antigen (HBsAg) in order to check for hepatitis B virus positivity. The HBsAg antigen is a part of the virus and usually appears in blood 1 to 9 weeks after infection.1
Detecting hepatitis B infection is critical, not only because of its potentially serious health implications, but because the infected individual may be asymptomatic (not showing any symptoms), and contagious to others. Because of the absence of symptoms, millions of people with hepatitis B remain undiagnosed.1
If you have been diagnosed with hepatitis B, it is important to take action as soon as possible. This will help protect yourself and others. Living with hepatitis B is different for each person, so it is best to speak to your medical professional about what your diagnosis means and what effect it may have on your body. It is also important to discuss any further tests that need to be carried out to ensure you have the best treatment.