Test Code HBCM Hepatitis B Virus Core IgM Antibody

Important Note

This test may be affected by biotin interference. Patients on high dose biotin (5mg/day or more) should not have samples drawn until at least 24 hours after the last biotin administration.

Infectious

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Serum

Preferred Specimen: Red Top

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions:

Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately.

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions:

Samples should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
Centrifuge specimens at >2500 x g for 10 minutes at room temperature.
Aliquot sample into plastic transport tube containing a minimum of 0.2 mL of specimen.
Samples must be sent room temperature at 15-25^oC.

Rejection Criteria

Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits.
Specimens that are clotted or grossly hemolyzed.
Specimens that were transported unspun/whole blood and draw time is greater than 6 hours

Reference Values

This is a qualitative test.

Test	Age	Sex	Reference Range	Interpretation
HBCM	All	All	<0.90 COI	Non-Reactive
HBCM	All	All	≥0.90<1.10 COI	Borderline
HBCM	All	All	≥1.10 COI	Reactive

Critical Values

Analyte	Unit	Low	High	Age
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

CPT Codes

86705

LOINC Codes

24113-3

Volume

Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL

Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature	Stability
Refrigerated	7 days
Frozen	3 months

Note: May be frozen up to 6 times.

Collection Instructions

Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures.

Test Components

Hepatitis B Virus Core IgM Antibody

Clinical Indications

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a DNA virus that is endemic throughout the world. In the initial (acute) phase of infection, hepatitis B virus core antibodies (anti-HBc) consist almost entirely of the IgM antibody class and appear shortly after the onset of symptoms. Anti-HBc IgM can be detected in serum and is usually present for up to 6 months after acute HBV infection. Anti-HBc IgM may be the only serologic marker of a recent hepatitis B infection detectable following the disappearance of hepatitis B surface antigen and prior to the appearance of hepatitis B virus surface antibody (ie, serologic window period).

Methodology

Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) (Roche Diagnostics)

Additional Information

A positive result indicates recent acute hepatitis B infection.

A negative result suggests lack of recent exposure to the virus in preceding 6 months.

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory.

STAT Turnaround Time: Not available as STAT test

Routine Turnaround Time: up to 4 hours

Testing Schedule: 24/7

Synonyms/Keyword Search

HBCM