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Hepatitis B Core Antibody IgM (HBc IgM)

HBcIgM, Hepatitis B Core Antibody, IgM (HBcIgM)

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB5219, Beaker: HBCM, Antrim: 30960

Department

Chemistry

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Gold-top SST tube. (Minimum Whole Blood: 4.0 mL)
Also acceptable: One Lavender-top EDTA tube. (Minimum Whole Blood: 3.0 mL) 

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

• Let SST specimens clot 30-60 minutes then immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F) the centrifuged SST tube within two hours of collection. (Minimum: 2.0 mL)
• Centrifuge Lavender-top tube immediately to separate plasma from cells. Transfer plasma to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F) within twelve hours of collection. (Minimum: 2.0 mL) 

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Centrifuged SST tube or plasma aliquot, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 2.0 mL serum or plasma)

Rejection Criteria

• Hemolyzed specimens.
• Severely lipemic specimens.
• Red-top tubes with serum not separated from cells within two hours of collection.
• Lavender-top tubes with plasma not separated from cells within twelve hours of collection. 

In-Lab Processing

Let SST specimens clot 30-60 minutes. Centrifuge SST, Lavender-top tubes, or Microtainers^® to separate serum or plasma from cells. Deliver immediately to the appropriate testing station.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Centrifuged SST Tubes and Microtainers^® with Separator Gel
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Red-top Tubes and Microtainers^® without Separator Gel
Room Temperature (20-25°C or 68-77°F): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Serum Specimens (Pour-Overs)
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 7 days

Plasma Specimens (Aliquots)
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 12 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 7 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days

Laboratory

Dearborn Chemistry Laboratory

Royal Oak Automated Chemistry Laboratory 

Performed

Sunday – Saturday, 24 hours a day.
Results available within 24 hours of receipt in the Laboratory.

Reference Range

Negative/Non-reactive.

Test Methodology

Chemiluminescence Immunoassay.

Interpretation

• This assay cannot be used to determine a patient's immune status to hepatitis B.
• Patients with Equivocal/Borderline result should be redrawn at approximately one- week intervals to distinguish rising IgM anti-HBc levels (associated with acute hepatitis B infection) from falling or unchanging IgM anti-HBc levels (associated with recovery).

Clinical Utility

• This assay aids in the diagnosis of acute or recent (usually six months or less) hepatitis B viral infection.
• IgM anti-HBc arises early in the illness of patients with acute hepatitis B, but it rapidly decreases in titer. HBV core IgM levels are generally not detectable 6-24 months after the onset of illness. (1)
• The incubation period for hepatitis B is approximately 70 days (range, 30-180 days) (1).

Clinical Disease

Patients with hepatitis B may present with fatigue, poor appetite, fever, vomiting and occasionally joint pain, hives or rash. Urine may become darker in color, and then jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) may appear. Patients may also be asymptomatic or experience only a few symptoms.

Transmission

Hepatitis B virus can be found in blood, saliva, semen and other body fluids of infected individuals. The virus is spread by direct contact with infectious body fluids. Transfusion was formerly the major mode of transmission of Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B infection is now most frequently spread by sexual contact, intravenous drug abuse and transmission from mothers to their newborn infants. (2)

Reference

1. Hsu, H., Feinstone, S., Hoofnagle, J. Acute Viral Hepatitis in Mandell, G., Bennett, J., Dolin. R.(eds.), Principles of Infectious Diseases 7th edition New York, N.Y. 2005 Chapter 115,116.
2. Farrar, W., Wood, M., Innes, J., Tubbs, H. Infectious Diseases, Time Mirror International Publishers Ltd New York, N.Y. 1995.

CPT Codes

86705

Contacts

Last Updated

10/27/2023