Plasma

Plasma Separator Tube

Call laboratory for additional acceptable specimen collection containers.

3 mL whole blood from light green top tube or TWO microtainers for pediatric patients

24 hrs/day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

1 hour (upon receipt in laboratory)

See Interpretive Data

< 0.80 — Non-reactive. IgM anti-HBc not detected. Does not exclude the possibility of exposure to or infection with hepatitis B virus.

0.80 to < 1.21. Grayzone. Antibodies to IgM anti-HBc may or may not be present. Patients with specimens exhibiting grayzone test results should be retested at approximately one week intervals.

Greater than or equal to 1.21. Reactive. Presumptive evidence of IgM anti-HBc.

Current methods for the detection of IgM anti-HBc may not detect all infected individuals. A nonreactive test result does not exclude the possibility of exposure to or infection with HBV.

The assay is limited to the detection of IgM anti-HBc in human serum or plasma. It can be used to determine whether a patient has, or has recently had, acute or subclinical hepatitis B infection. Supportive clinical information, including other hepatitis B markers, should also be evaluated. The test cannot determine a patient's immune status to hepatitis B.

Specimens from patients with high levels of IgM (e.g., specimens from patients with multiple myeloma) may show depressed values.

Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA)

Centrifuge at 3000 RPM for 10 minutes.
Aliquot plasma into labeled container and cap.
Label transport tube with two patient identifiers, date and time of collection.

Refrigerate.

Place requisition into outside pocket of bag.
Place specimen into zip-lock type bag, seal bag.
Transport in cooler with refrigerated coolant packs.

86705