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Lab Dept:
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Serology
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Test Name:
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HEPATITIS Be ANTIGEN (HBeAg)
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General Information
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Lab Order Codes:
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HBEA
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Synonyms:
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Hepatitis HBe Ag; HBeAg; Hepatitis Be Viral Antigen
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CPT Codes:
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87350 – Hepatitis Be antigen
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Test Includes:
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Hepatitis Be Antigen reported as positive, negative or equivocal.
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Logistics
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Test Indications:
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Diagnosis and monitoring of hepatitis B virus infectivity. Recognition of resolution of hepatitis B infection with seroconversion of Hbe Ag to hepatitis Be antibody (anti-Hbe).
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Lab Testing Sections:
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Serology - Sendouts
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Referred to:
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Mayo Medical Laboratories (Test# EAG/80510)
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Phone Numbers:
Minneapolis:
Saint Paul:
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612-813-6280
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651-220-6550
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Test Availability:
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Daily, 24 hours
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Turnaround Time:
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1 - 2 days; test performed Monday - Saturday
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Special Instructions:
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N/A
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Specimen
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Specimen Type:
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Blood
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Container:
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Red top tube
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Draw Volume:
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3 mL (Minimum: 1.5 mL) blood
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Processed Volume:
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1 mL (Minimum: 0.5 mL) serum
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Collection:
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Routine venipuncture
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Special Processing:
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Lab Staff: Centrifuge specimen, remove serum aliquot into a screw-capped round bottom plastic vial. Store and ship at frozen temperatures. Forward promptly.
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Patient Preparation:
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None
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Sample Rejection:
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Specimens other than serum; warm specimens; gross lipemia; grossly icteric; gross hemolysis; mislabeled or unlabeled specimens
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Interpretive
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Reference Range:
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Negative (reported as positive, negative or equivocal)
Presence of hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) usually indicates active hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and infectivity.
Undetectable HBeAg with appearance of hepatitis Be antibody is consistent with resolution of HBV infectivity.
Equivocal HBeAg results indicate borderline levels of HBeAg in serum. Retesting in 1 to 2 months is recommended to determine definitive HBV infection status, if clinically indicated.
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Critical Values:
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N/A
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Limitations:
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Disappearance of hepatitis Be antigen does not completely rule out chronic hepatitis B carrier state and/or infectivity.
Performance characteristics have not been established for the following specimen characteristics:
- Grossly icteric (total bilirubin level >20 mg/dL)
- Grossly lipemic (triglyceride level >3,000 mg/dL)
- Grossly hemolyzed (hemoglobin level >100 mg/dL)
- Specimen containing particulate matter
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Methodology:
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Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)
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References:
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Mayo Medical Laboratories September 2012
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Updates:
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4/6/2004: Test moved from Memorial Blood Center of Minneapolis to Mayo Medical Laboratories.
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