title: Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen.
abstract: Two distinct antigen-antibody systems are associated with the hepatitis B virus (HBV): hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) and antibody (anti-HBs) and the more recently described hepatitis B core antigen (HBc Ag) and antibody (anti-HBc). Testing of serial serum samples from patients with type B hepatitis demonstrates the regular occurrence of anti-HBc during the course of this disease. In general, highest titers of anti-HBc are seen with prolonged circulation of HBs Ag as in the chronic carrier state. Titers of anti-HBc begin to fall with recovery from HBV infection and anti-HBc appears to be shorter lived than anti-HBs. As such, anti-HBc testing is important in documenting the occurrence of infection with HBV and is of great value in epidemiologic studies and in evaluating the safety and efficacy of hepatitis B immune globulin and HBV vaccines.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D002353:Carrier State; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002679:Pan troglodytes
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins