Hepatitis B Immunity from Vaccination
Your test results indicate immunity to hepatitis B from successful vaccination, with no evidence of current or past hepatitis B infection, and no evidence of hepatitis A or hepatitis C infection. 1, 2
Interpretation of Your Serologic Results
Hepatitis B Status
- Negative HBsAg with positive HBsAb (27.8 mIU/mL) and negative HBcAb confirms vaccine-derived immunity to hepatitis B. 1, 2
- Your HBsAb level of 27.8 mIU/mL exceeds the protective threshold of ≥10 mIU/mL, indicating adequate immunity. 3, 2
- The absence of HBcAb (hepatitis B core antibody) definitively distinguishes vaccine-derived immunity from immunity acquired through natural infection—if you had recovered from a past hepatitis B infection, both HBsAb and HBcAb would be positive. 3, 1
- You are immune to hepatitis B, cannot be infected with the virus, and cannot transmit it to others. 1
Hepatitis A Status
- Negative hepatitis A IgM antibody indicates no current acute hepatitis A infection. 3
- This test does not assess immunity from past infection or vaccination—a separate hepatitis A total antibody or IgG test would be needed to determine if you are immune to hepatitis A. 3
Hepatitis C Status
- Negative hepatitis C antibody indicates you have not been infected with hepatitis C virus. 3, 1
- No further hepatitis C testing is needed unless you have ongoing risk factors or develop unexplained liver enzyme elevations. 3
Clinical Recommendations
No Further Hepatitis B Action Required
- For immunocompetent individuals with documented completion of the hepatitis B vaccine series and HBsAb ≥10 mIU/mL, no further testing or booster doses are currently recommended. 2
- You have long-term protection against hepatitis B and do not need periodic retesting of HBsAb levels. 2
Important Exceptions Requiring Monitoring
- If you develop immunocompromising conditions (HIV infection, chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis, hematologic malignancy, or require immunosuppressive therapy including chemotherapy or anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies), you may need periodic monitoring of HBsAb levels. 3
- The risk of HBV reactivation is minimal in individuals with vaccine-derived immunity because you lack HBcAb, meaning you have no prior natural infection that could reactivate. 1
- However, immunosuppressive therapy can lead to loss of vaccine-derived immunity over time, necessitating monitoring in those specific clinical scenarios. 3
Consider Hepatitis A Vaccination
- If you have risk factors for hepatitis A (men who have sex with men, injection drug use, chronic liver disease, travel to endemic areas), you should be tested for hepatitis A total or IgG antibody and vaccinated if non-immune. 3
Periodic Hepatitis C Screening
- If you have ongoing risk factors for hepatitis C (injection drug use, receipt of blood transfusions before 1992, healthcare exposure to blood, multiple sexual partners, HIV infection), annual hepatitis C antibody screening is recommended. 3