What to do if you test positive for hepatitis B
What is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver. Some people clear it naturally, while others may develop a longer-term infection. It is important to complete further tests to understand if you are still infectious and whether treatment is needed.
What does a reactive hepatitis B screening result mean?
Your hepatitis B screening test has shown a reactive result. This does not mean you definitely have hepatitis B. Screening tests are designed to be very sensitive so they can detect even very early or low-level infections. Because of this, they can sometimes react to other antibodies in your blood, leading to a result that appears positive when there is no infection.
For many people, especially when the reaction is very low, the result is likely to be negative, but a repeat test is recommended to confirm this. Most people who are asked to repeat the test go on to have a negative result.
Why is a repeat test important?
Occasionally, a stronger reaction on the screening test can indicate a true hepatitis B infection. Repeating the test allows you to confirm the result accurately. We recommend you re-test at your local sexual health clinic [Find a sexual health clinic - NHS] or GP so they can support you with the next steps if the result is confirmed. Effective monitoring and treatments are available, and many people with hepatitis B live well with appropriate care.
If you’ve been advised to have a repeat test, please arrange this as soon as convenient using our service so we can give you clear and reliable answers
What to do next
- You’ll need follow-up blood tests to understand whether the infection is recent or ongoing. You can find your local sexual health clinic here: Find a sexual health clinic - NHS or visit your GP.
- A specialist can advise whether monitoring or treatment is needed.
- Close contacts may need testing or vaccination.
Why follow-up is important
Monitoring protects your liver health and helps prevent transmission.
For further information please see: Hepatitis B - NHS
For further support, please contact our clinical team: [email protected]