Description

Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) is an antibody produced by the immune system in response to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antigen. The presence of anti-HBc indicates a past or ongoing infection with hepatitis B virus. It can be further classified into two types:

1. IgM anti-HBc: This indicates recent or acute infection.
2. IgG anti-HBc: This indicates past infection or ongoing chronic infection.

When the term “total” is used in the context of anti-HBc (anti-HBc total), it refers to the combination of both IgM and IgG antibodies. This test is often used in conjunction with other hepatitis B serological tests to determine the stage and status of hepatitis B infection.