From:  Burden, risks, and management recommendations for hepatitis B in healthcare workers worldwide with a special focus on Africa

 Interpretation of various hepatitis B markers in different clinical situations

HBsAgHBeAgAnti-HBcAnti-HBe IgMAnti-HBe IgGAnti-HBsInterpretation
+−+−−−HBV infection, but in the incubation period
+−+++−Acute HBV or persistent HBV carrier state
+−+−+−Persistent HBV carrier state
−++±+−Persistent HBV carrier state
−−−±+−HBV convalescent state
−−−−++HBV in recovery state
−−−+−+HBV infection without detectable HBsAg
−−−−+−HBV recovery with loss of detectable anti-HBs
−−−−−+HBV immunization without infection (repeated exposure to antigen without infection)

HBsAg: hepatitis B surface antigen; HBeAg: hepatitis B e antigen; anti-HBc: hepatitis B core antibody; anti-HBe: hepatitis B e antibody; IgM: immunoglobulin M; IgG: immunoglobulin G; anti-HBs: hepatitis B surface antibody; (+): indicates a positive result, suggesting the presence of the corresponding marker; (−): indicates a negative result, suggesting the absence of the corresponding marker

Note. Adapted with permission from [11], © 2009 Journal of Laboratory Physicians