Hep B Lab Question

[Mehita]

About a year and half ago, DS was tested for Hep B antibodies prior to starting Remicade and it came back as zero, meaning he had no immunity even though he'd been vaccinated as an infant. Because of this, we did a booster. At his last GI visit, we retested the "Hepatitis B Surface Antibody" and it came back as 15.98 and was marked as High. The reference range given was <8.00m[IU]/mL and I'm not sure how to interpret this? Is this good?

From the websites I've looked at, most results fall in to positive or negative, not a value. Does the 15 mean he's built antibodies to the vaccine? Or the disease?

I'm confused. Help?

 

[Mr chicken]

Have you just asked his Gi or Ped ?

 

[DanceMom]

http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/8254

Looks like he responded to the vaccine appropriately.

 

[DustyKat]

A qualitative result for surface antibodies will give you a numerical reading.

The reference range would likely differ between labs, as it does for other tests, but a high result such as the one you have received means he would be considered to have immunity to Hep B. I think stating it as high pulls him out of classifications such as indeterminate which would then require further testing.

Dusty. xxx

 

[Mehita]

I haven't talked to the GI... it's a Friday afternoon, of course! I just got the results in the mail this afternoon.

I think you're right, Dusty. And after reading the link DanceMom provided, that makes sense.

Interestingly, there have been studies recently about how many in the Celiac population are not responding to the Hep B vaccine, some even after a booster or the 3 shot series, so I'm glad it appears to have worked for DS.

 

[DustyKat]

On reading your question again…

Does the 15 mean he's built antibodies to the vaccine? Or the disease?

You build up acquired immunity to a disease in one of two ways, either by exposure to the disease itself or via vaccination. It doesn’t matter how the immunity is achieved as building antibodies by either means still results in you being immune to the disease itself.

 

[DustyKat]

Oops, sorry, posting at the same time.

Yes! It good that your lad has responded to the booster.

I am one in which some vaccines don’t take very well either…Hep B and TB spring to mind! :eek2: