Hepatitis B (acute and chronic) infection (Hepatitis B virus)

Clinical criteria
Not relevant for surveillance purposes

Laboratory criteria
Acute case
At least one of the following three:
- Detection of hepatitis B core IgM (anti-HBc IgM)
- Detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) AND previous negative HBV
markers less than 6 months ago
- Detection of hepatitis B nucleic acid (HBV-DNA) AND previous negative HBV
markers less than 6 months ago

Chronic case
At least one of the following two:
- Detection of HBsAg or HBV-DNA AND no detection of anti-HBc IgM (negative result)
- Detection of HBsAg or HBV-DNA on two occasions that are 6 months apart

Case of unknown status
Any case which cannot be classified according the above description of acute or chronic infection and having positive results of at least one of the following tests:
- Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
- Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)
- Hepatitis B nucleic acid (HBV-DNA)

Epidemiological criteria
Not relevant for surveillance purposes

Case classification
A. Possible case
NA
B. Probable case
NA
C. Confirmed case
Any person meeting the laboratory criteria

Note:
The following combination of lab tests shall not be included or notified:

  • Resolved hepatitis - Hepatitis B total core antibody (anti-HBc) positive and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative
  • Immunity following vaccination - Hepatitis B total core antibody (anti-HBc)
    negative and hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) positive

Elevated levels of IgM in some chronic cases may result in misclassification which could over-estimate the number of acute cases

Current as of: 28 May 2018