TABLE 1

Interpretation of hepatitis B serologic markers

Infection phase	Serologic marker
Infection phase	HBsAg^a	Total anti-HBc^b	IgM antibody to anti-HBc^c	Anti-HBs^d
No current infection	Negative	Negative	Negative	Negative
Immunity due to past infection	Negative	Positive	Negative	Positive
Immunity due to vaccination	Negative	Negative	Negative	Positive
Acute infection	Positive	Positive	Positive	Negative
Chronic infection	Positive	Positive	Negative	Negative
Other ^e	Negative	Positive	Positive or negative	Negative

↵a Hepatitis B surface antigen.
↵b Total antibody to hepatitis B core antigen.
↵c Immunoglobulin M antibody to hepatitis B core antigen.
↵d Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen.
↵e Possibilities include resolved infection (most common), resolving acute infection, “low-level” chronic infection, and no current infection due to false-positive anti-HBc.