Hep B Core Ab, Total details

This test detects total hepatitis B core antibodies, which develop only from actual infection with the hepatitis B virus — unlike surface antibody, core antibody is never produced by vaccination, making it a useful marker for distinguishing true past or current infection from vaccine-induced immunity. A positive total core antibody, combined with the results of surface antigen and surface antibody testing, helps determine whether you have a current active infection, a past resolved infection, or a chronic infection, since the pattern of all three markers together tells a more complete story than any one alone.