Hepatitis B is a potentially life threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person.1 The disease is not always self limiting: In adults approx. 5 % of acute infections will follow a chronic course of varying degrees of severity; infants will develop chronic hepatitis B in up to 90 % of the cases.1
An estimated 257 million people are living with HBV infection. In 2015, hepatitis B resulted in 887,000 deaths, mostly from complications (including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma).1 Anti-HBs is an antibody that is directed against the hepatitis B surface antigen.2,3 Anti-HBs can be detected several weeks after the disappearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).4,5
Anti-HBs can be formed following a hepatitis B infection or after hepatitis B vaccination.4,5 Antibodies are formed against to HBsAg immunodeterminant “a” determinant region, which is common to all subtypes, and against subtype-specific determinants.2,6,7
Anti-HBs tests are used within the scope of hepatitis B vaccination to check the necessity and success of vaccination.3,5,8 In addition, Anti-HBs tests are used to monitor the course of disease following acute hepatitis B infection.4