The Autobio anti-HBc ELISA is intended for the qualitative detection of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen concentrations in human serum or plasma specimens.
Hepatitits B (HB) is a viral infection, in which the route of infection can be sexual contact, improper needle puncture, blood transfusion or even contaminated food or water.
The determination of anti-HBc levels can be sued to examine the progress of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In acute case of hepatitis B infection, anti-HBc is detectable in the blood shortly after the apperance of HBsAg. HBsAg levels often decline before the appearance of anti-HBs. During this interval between the decline of HBsAg and the rise in anti-HBs, total anti-HBc may be the only reliable marker of HBV infection.
In chronic HBV infections, HBsAg rises during the incubation phase and may persist for years. Anti-HBc also apperars during this early phase and reaches high titers which may persist for years. In asymptomatic HBV infections, HBsAg and HBeAg are present only briefly and are quickly followed by the apperance of anti-HBs and anti-HBc. Therefore in such patients, sometimes the only evidence of an infection may be the detection of anti-HBs and anti-HBc.
