Test ID: PHSP Prenatal Hepatitis Evaluation, Serum
Reporting Name
Prenatal Hepatitis EvaluationUseful For
Screening pregnant women for chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C in primary care settings, with or without risk factors for hepatitis C
Determining the level of infectivity of chronic hepatitis B in pregnant women
This test is not useful for diagnosis of hepatitis B during the "window period" of acute hepatitis B virus infection (ie, after disappearance of hepatitis B surface antigen and prior to appearance of hepatitis B surface antibody).
This test should not be used as a screening test for hepatitis C in blood or human cells/tissue donors.
This test profile is not useful for detection or diagnosis of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) in pregnancy, since HCV antibodies may not be detectable until after 2 months following exposure, and HCV RNA testing is not performed on specimens with negative HCV antibody screening test results.
Clinical Information
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a DNA virus that is endemic throughout the world. After a course of acute illness, HBV persists in about 10% of patients who were infected during adulthood. Some carriers are asymptomatic, while others may develop chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
HBV is spread primarily through percutaneous contact with infected blood products (ie, blood transfusion, sharing of needles by drug users). The virus is found in virtually every type of human body fluid and is spread through oral and genital contact.
HBV can be transmitted from mother to child during delivery through contact with blood and vaginal secretions; it is not commonly transmitted transplacentally. Infection of the infant can occur if the mother is a chronic hepatitis B surface antigen carrier or has an acute HBV infection at the time of delivery. Transmission is rare if an acute infection occurs in either the first or second trimester of pregnancy.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is recognized as the cause of most cases of posttransfusion hepatitis and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the United States, HCV infection is quite common, with an estimated 2.4 million chronic HCV carriers.
Laboratory testing for HCV infection usually begins by screening for the presence of HCV-specific antibodies in serum, using an US Food and Drug Administration approved screening test. Specimens that are repeatedly reactive by screening tests should be confirmed with HCV tests with higher specificity, such as direct detection of HCV RNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction or HCV-specific antibody confirmatory tests.
HCV antibodies are usually not detectable during the first 2 months following infection but are usually detectable by the late convalescent stage (>6 months after onset) of infection. These antibodies neither neutralize the virus nor provide immunity against this viral infection. Decrease in the HCV antibody level in serum may occur following resolution of infection.
Current serologic screening tests to detect HCV antibodies include enzyme and chemiluminescence immunoassays. Despite the value of serologic tests to screen for HCV infection, several limitations of serologic testing exist:
-There may be a long delay (up to 6 months) between exposure to the virus and the development of detectable HCV-specific antibodies
-False-reactive screening test results can occur
-A reactive screening test result does not distinguish between past (resolved) and present HCV infection
-Serologic tests cannot provide information on clinical response to anti-HCV therapy
Reactive screening test results should be followed by a supplemental or confirmatory test, such as a nucleic acid test for HCV RNA or HCV antibody confirmatory test. Nucleic acid tests provide a very sensitive and specific approach for the direct detection of HCV RNA.
Interpretation
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is the first serologic marker appearing in the serum 6 to 16 weeks following hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. A confirmed positive result for HBsAg is indicative of acute or chronic hepatitis B. In acute cases, HBsAg usually disappears 1 to 2 months after the onset of symptoms. Persistence of HBsAg for more than 6 months indicates development of either a chronic carrier state or chronic liver disease. HBs antibody (anti-HBs) appears with the resolution of HBV infection after the disappearance of HBsAg.
HBeAg appears at approximately the same time as HBsAg and indicates that the virus is replicating, and the individual is infectious. Appearance of anti-HBe after the disappearance of HBsAg and HBeAg usually indicates recovery and loss of infectivity.
Reactive hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody screening results with signal-to-cutoff (S/Co) ratios of below 8.0 are not predictive of the true HCV antibody status; additional testing is recommended to confirm HCV antibody status.
Reactive results with S/Co ratios of 8.0 or greater are highly predictive (95% or greater probability) of the true HCV antibody status, but additional testing is needed to differentiate between past (resolved) and chronic hepatitis C.
A negative screening test result does not exclude the possibility of exposure to, or infection with, HCV. Negative screening test results in individuals with prior exposure to HCV may be due to low antibody levels that are below the limit of detection of this assay or lack of reactivity to the HCV antigens used in this assay. Patients with acute or recent HCV infections (<3 months from time of exposure) may have false-negative HCV antibody results due to the time needed for seroconversion (average of 8 to 9 weeks). Testing for HCV RNA using HCVRP / Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA Detection and Quantification, Real-Time Reverse Transcription-PCR Prenatal, Serum is recommended for detection of HCV infection in such patients.
Report Available
Same day/1 to 4 daysDay(s) Performed
Monday through Saturday
Clinical Reference
1. Bonino F, Piratvisuth T, Brunetto MR, Liaw Y: Diagnostic markers of chronic hepatitis B infection and disease. Antivir Ther. 2010;15(3):35-44
2. Jackson K, Locarnini S, Gish R: Diagnostics of hepatitis B virus: Standard of care and investigational. Clin Liver Dis. 2018 Aug 22;12(1):5-11. doi: 10.1002/cld.729
3. Coffin CS, Zhou K, Terrault NA: New and old biomarkers for diagnosis and management of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Gastroenterology. 2019 Jan;156(2):355-368. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.11.037
4. WHO Guidelines Development Group: World Health Organization guidelines on hepatitis B and C testing. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017. Accessed November 4, 2022. Available at www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549981
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Testing and public health management of persons with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Updated March 28, 2022. Accessed November 4, 2022. Available at www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/testingchronic.htm
6. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA): HCV guidance: Recommendations for testing, managing, and treating hepatitis C. AASLD, IDSA; Updated October 24, 2022. Accessed November 4, 2022. Available at www.hcvguidelines.org/contents
7. US Preventive Services Task Force, Owens DK, Davidson KW, et al: Screening for hepatitis C virus infection in adolescents and adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2020 Mar 10;323(10):970-975. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.1123
8. Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), Hughes BL, Page CM, Kuller JA: Hepatitis C in pregnancy: screening, treatment, and management. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Nov;217(5):B2-B12
9. National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention: Pregnancy and HIV, viral hepatitis STD and TB prevention: HCV infection challenges. CDC; Update August 11, 2022. Accessed November 4, 2022. Available at www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/pregnancy/challenges/hcv.html
10. Schillie S, Wester C, Osborne M, Wesolowski L, Ryerson AB: CDC recommendations for hepatitis C screening among adults-United States, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020 Apr 10;69(2):1-17
Method Name
Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CIA)
Specimen Type
Serum SSTNecessary Information
Date of collection is required.
Specimen Required
Patient Preparation: 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.
Collection Container/Tube: Serum gel
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 2.5 mL
Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into plastic vial within 24 hours.
Specimen Minimum Volume
2 mL
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Serum SST | Frozen (preferred) | 28 days | |
Refrigerated | 7 days | ||
Ambient | 24 hours |
Reference Values
HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGEN
Negative
HEPATITIS C ANTIBODY
Negative
Test Classification
This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.CPT Code Information
87340
86803
G0472 (if appropriate for government payers)
87522 (if appropriate)
86707 (if appropriate)
87341 (if appropriate)
87350 (if appropriate)
LOINC Code Information
Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
PHSP | Prenatal Hepatitis Evaluation | In Process |
Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
HBSAP | HBs Antigen Prenatal, S | 5196-1 |
HCVA6 | HCV Ab Prenatal, S | 40726-2 |
Testing Algorithm
If the result for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) prenatal is reactive, then HBsAg confirmation prenatal testing will be performed at an additional charge. If the HBsAg confirmation is positive, then HBe Ag and HBe antibody testing will be performed at an additional charge.
If the hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody screen is reactive, then HCV RNA testing by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction will be performed at an additional charge.
For more information see Hepatitis B: Testing Algorithm for Screening, Diagnosis, and Management.
Reflex Tests
Test ID | Reporting Name | Available Separately | Always Performed |
---|---|---|---|
EAG | Hepatitis Be Ag, S | Yes | No |
HEAB | HBe Antibody, S | Yes | No |
HBNTP | HBs Ag Confirmation Prenatal, S | No | No |
HCVRP | HCV RNA Detect/Quant Prenatal, S | Yes | No |
Profile Information
Test ID | Reporting Name | Available Separately | Always Performed |
---|---|---|---|
HBAGP | HBs Antigen Prenatal, S | Yes | Yes |
HCVSP | HCV Ab Scrn Prenatal, S | Yes | Yes |
Special Instructions
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send 1 of the following:
mml-hepatitis