HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGEN (HBSAG) QUANTITATIVE

The First Step in Hepatitis B Screening

The HBsAg Test (historically known as the Australian Antigen test) is the primary blood test used to detect an active Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

"HBsAg" stands for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen. This is a protein found on the surface of the Hepatitis B virus. If this protein is found in your blood, it means the virus is present in your body and you can spread the infection to others. It is the earliest marker of infection, often appearing even before symptoms start.

Hepatitis B is highly contagious (more so than HIV) and spreads through blood and body fluids. You should book this test if:

• Routine Screening: It is a mandatory test for pregnant women (to protect the baby), blood donors, and often for Pre-Employment or Visa/Immigration medicals.
• Risk Exposure: You have had unprotected sex, shared needles, or received a tattoo/piercing with unsterile equipment.
• Symptoms: You are experiencing jaundice (yellow skin), dark urine, extreme fatigue, or upper right abdominal pain.
• Contact Tracing: Someone in your household or a sexual partner has tested positive for Hepatitis B.