Guidance

Flowchart for HBV screening and confirmation (accessible version)

Updated 25 May 2022

Applies to England

For reporting please use the results table and reporting comments for hepatitis B.

1. Perform hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) assay: is HBsAg detected?

If no, report as hepatitis B surface antigen not detected. End of laboratory pathway.

If yes, go to step 2.

2. Perform neutralisation or alternative HBsAg assay: is HBsAg detected?

If no, go to step 3.

If yes, go to step 4.

3. Test hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) (total): is anti-HBc detected?

If no, go to step 5.

If yes, go to step 4.

4. Test other serology markers and review all results

Go to step 5.

5. See results table and reporting comments for hepatitis B