Hepatitis Health Center

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If you have chronic HBV infection, you will need to visit your doctor regularly. He or she will do blood tests to monitor your liver function and the activity of the hepatitis B virus in your body. Some of the tests can tell your doctor whether HBV is actively multiplying in your liver, which increases your risk for chronic hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma).

Early detection

The CDC recommends that all pregnant women have the hepatitis B surface antigen test. This test can tell if a woman has an active HBV infection. This test also may be repeated later in the pregnancy if a woman is at high risk for infection. For more information on risk factors, see the What Increases Your Risk section of this topic.

People who were exposed to the hepatitis B virus in the past, especially people who moved to the United States from a country where the virus is common, often develop lifelong protection (immunity) against HBV and do not need to be vaccinated. But people from countries where HBV infection is common may carry the virus and should be screened for the virus.

You can be tested for hepatitis B before getting vaccinated.

• Antibody testing will show if you have an active hepatitis B infection and need treatment.
• If testing shows you are already protected against hepatitis B, you will not need to get the hepatitis B vaccine(What is a PDF document?).
• You can receive the hepatitis B vaccine even if you already have antibodies against HBV in your blood, and no harm will result.