Hepatitis B

Causes & Risk Factors

Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with infected blood or body fluids:

• Mother-to-child transmission during childbirth — a major route in endemic regions.

• Unprotected sexual contact with an infected person.

• Sharing needles or other injection equipment.

• Exposure to infected blood, including through unsafe medical or dental procedures.

• Household or close contact with an infected person in higher-prevalence settings.

Symptoms & When to Test

Hepatitis B may present as acute infection with noticeable symptoms, or as chronic infection that remains asymptomatic for years while still affecting the liver.

• Acute infection — fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine, and jaundice

• Many chronic infections are asymptomatic and identified only through screening

• Advanced chronic infection with liver damage may eventually present with fatigue or signs of liver disease

When Should You Consider Testing?

Testing is appropriate for symptoms of acute hepatitis, known exposure, risk factors, pregnancy screening, or birth in a region with higher hepatitis B prevalence.

Why Tests Are Combined

Each hepatitis B marker answers a different question: HBsAg indicates current infection, Anti-HBs indicates immunity, Total Anti-HBc indicates previous or current exposure, IgM Anti-HBc helps identify recent/acute infection, and HBeAg/Anti-HBe help assess viral replication phase.

HBV DNA quantitative measures the amount of viral DNA and is important for assessing viral replication and treatment monitoring — this is distinct from the serological markers, which indicate infection status but not viral quantity.

ALT/AST are included to assess associated liver injury, since the degree of liver inflammation (not just the presence of virus) is an important factor in treatment decisions for chronic hepatitis B.

Tests Available at NPL

Preparation requirements vary by specific test — please follow the instructions provided by your doctor or NPL for the tests ordered.

Home Sample Collection

NPL offers convenient home sample collection for Hepatitis B blood tests, so you don't need to visit a lab in person.

→ Book your test online, via the NPL app, or by calling +977 1 5970147 and select a convenient time slot for home sample collection.

→ A certified and experienced NPL phlebotomist visits your home at the scheduled time, following strict hygiene and safety protocols.

→ Your sample is transported under controlled, monitored conditions to NPL's NABL ACCREDITED UNDER ISO 15189:2022 laboratory for processing.

→ Your digital report is delivered securely to your phone or email, along with access to download and share it as needed.

When to See a Doctor

• Symptoms of acute hepatitis — jaundice, dark urine, fatigue, abdominal pain

• Known exposure to hepatitis B

• Positive hepatitis B test result requiring further evaluation

• Pregnancy without known hepatitis B status

• Known chronic hepatitis B due for monitoring