A patient got exposed to Hepatitis B infection. Which of the following markers will always be present in the patient even he becomes chronic or recurrent?: (A) Hbs Ag, (B) Anti HBs Ab, (C) Hbc AB, (D) Hbe Ag
Answer is C. Ans. (c) Hbc ABRef: Ananthanarayan and Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology - 10th ed - page 550* HbcAg - cannot be demonstrable in blood* The earliest antibody marker to be identified is Anti HbcAg -IgM* After six months IgG starts appearing* Question dint mention IgM or IgG (hence that's the answer)HBs AgHBe AgAnti HBcAnti HBsAnti HBeInterpretation++IgM--Acute HBV infection; highly infectious++IgG--Late/chronic HBV infection or carrier state; highly infectious+-IgG-+/-Late/Chronic HBV infection or carrier state; low infectivity-+/-IgM-+/-Seen rarely in early acute HBV infection; infectious--IgG+/-+/-Remote HBV infection; infectivity nil or very low---+-Immunity following HBV vaccine