Preferred Specimen(s) 1 mL serum
Transport Container Plastic screw-cap vial
Transport Temperature
- Refrigerated 5 days,
- -20oC 4 weeks
Reject Criteria
- Gross hemolysis
- Gross lipemia
Methodology Chemiluminescence
Clinical Significance Hepatitis B core-specific IgM class antibody has been detected in most acute infections and is a reliable marker for acute disease. In some cases, hepatitis B core IgM antibody may be the only specific marker for the diagnosis of acute infection with hepatitis B virus.