Chronic Hepatitis B Virus
2007 Case Definition
Clinical description
Persons with chronic HBV infection may have no evidence of liver disease or may have a spectrum of
disease ranging from chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Persons with chronic infection
may be asymptomatic.
Laboratory criteria for diagnosis
- IgM antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) negative AND a positive result on one of the
following tests: hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), or hepatitis B
virus (HBV) DNA
OR
- HBsAg positive or HBV DNA positive or HBeAg positive two times at least 6 months apart (Any
combination of these tests performed 6 months apart is acceptable.)
Case classification
Confirmed: a case that meets either laboratory criteria for diagnosis
Probable: a case with a single HBsAg positive or HBV DNA positive or HBeAg
positive lab result when no IgM anti-HBc results are available
Comment
Multiple laboratory tests indicative of chronic HBV infection may be performed simultaneously on the
same patient specimen as part of a “hepatitis panel”. Testing performed in this manner may lead to
seemingly discordant results, e.g., HBsAg-negative AND HBV DNA-positive. For the purposes of this case
definition, any positive result among the three laboratory tests mentioned above is acceptable,
regardless of other testing results. Negative HBeAg results and HBV DNA levels below positive cutoff
level do not confirm the absence of HBV infection.
References
Division of Viral Hepatitis. Guidelines for Viral Hepatitis Surveillance and Case Management.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. January 2005.
See also:
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