Is it possible to find out from lab results for hep b if a successfully vaccinated person is showing antibodies as a result of being exposed to the virus or b/c of the vaccine? How would a person know even if they were vaccinated if they were exposed?
2006-12-25 12:56:55 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ STDs
You could possibly do a Hep B antigen test. This is a lab test, and if it come back positive, then the person has been exposed.
I'm not sure however of the incidence of people having been exposed and testing Hep B antigen negative. You might wanna look that bit up.
2006-12-25 12:59:45 · answer #1 · answered by Mubz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are vaccinated, you are given hep B surface antigen, and develop antibodies to the surface antigen. If you are exposed to the virus naturally, you are exposed to the surface antigen and the bacterial core, and develop antibodies to both the surface antigen and core. If you have core and surface antibodies, it was an exposure to the virus. If you have only surface antibodies, it was from the vaccine.
2006-12-28 01:36:50 · answer #2 · answered by westbound98 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋