Hepatitis B Test

Hepatitis B (HBV) Testing

Hepatitis B is caused by a virus that attacks the liver. The virus, which is called hepatitis B virus (HBV), can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.
HBV is spread when blood from an infected person enters the body of a person who is not infected. For example, HBV is spread through having sex with an infected person without using a condom (the efficacy of latex condoms in preventing infection with HBV is unknown, but their proper use might reduce transmission), by sharing drugs, needles, or "works" when "shooting" drugs, through needlesticks or sharps exposures on the job, or from an infected mother to her baby during birth.

Hepatitis B is not spread through food or water, sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, coughing, sneezing or by casual contact.

One out of 20 people in the United States will get infected with HBV some time during their lives.

How do you know if you have hepatitis B? Only a Hepatitis B blood test can tell for sure. At LabSafe, a panel of tests are performed to ensure Hepatitis B may be detected at any stage of infection. The LabSafe panel can also detect if you are immune to the Hepatitis B virus, typically due to vaccination.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), in 2003, an estimated 73,000 people were infected with HBV. People of all ages get hepatitis B and about 5,000 die per year of sickness caused by HBV.

To purchase a Hepatitis B test simply order online at LabSafe at http://www.labsafe.com/lab-tests/test/423/or visit our website at www.labsafe.com

For more information, or to speak with a member of our professional Medical Staff, call LabSafe toll free at 1-888-333-LABS.