Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Get the Compare Your Your Quiz Your Summary Hepatitis B causes inflammation of the liver. It is spread through infected blood and body fluids. Hepatitis B is spread most often during sexual contact and when people share needles to inject drugs. Hepatitis B can also be spread when an infected person shares items such as razors or toothbrushes. Sometimes a baby is infected at birth because the mother has hepatitis B. Many people have hepatitis B for years without knowing it, because they have no symptoms. Hepatitis B can cause serious liver problems, such as cirrhosis, liver cancer, or liver failure. But some people never have serious problems. Most adults who get hepatitis B have it for a short time and then get better on their own. You can have a blood test to find out if you have hepatitis B. A small amount of blood is drawn from your arm. The blood is sent to a lab. The test looks for hepatitis B antibodies. Having these antibodies means that you have been exposed to hepatitis B, but it does not mean that you now have an active infection. If the test shows that you have been exposed to hepatitis B, your blood may be tested again to see if the virus is still in your blood. The second test shows whether you have an active hepatitis B infection. For the second test, the lab may use some of the blood that was already drawn, or you may need to have more blood drawn. If you find out that you have hepatitis B, you have to decide whether to get treatment. Your doctor might advise you to get tested for hepatitis B if: Compare What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. I have been sexually active for years and have had at least a dozen sex partners. I'm going to have a hepatitis B test. I have a friend who went through treatment a year or so ago. He was pretty miserable, but he came out all right. If he can do it, I can. I think I owe it to myself to find out if I have hepatitis B. Jax, age 40 I had several sex partners when I was in my 20s, but I don't consider myself promiscuous. I sometimes worry that I could have hepatitis B, but I think the odds are in my favor that I don't have it, so I'm not going to be tested. Karen, age 33 I did drugs in my teens and shared needles a couple of times. I just recently read an article about hepatitis B, and I think I'll get tested. I don't want to deal with the treatment decision right now, but I want to know if I have it. Malik, age 29 I lived with a woman who had hepatitis B, and I watched her go through the treatment. She had a rough time of it for a year. I don't think I could handle feeling that sick for so long. So I'm not going to be tested, because I don't think I would go through the treatment even if it turned out I have hepatitis B. Sam, age 44 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to get tested for hepatitis B Reasons not to get tested for hepatitis B If I tested positive, I would be willing to deal with the side effects of treatment. I wouldn't be willing to put myself through the side effects of treatment. If I tested positive, I would want to tell people I might have given it to, so they could get tested. I wouldn't want to tell people, because I'm worried that it would hurt my relationships. I want to know for sure if I need to use condoms and take other steps so that I don't spread hepatitis B. I'm already careful. I use condoms every time I have sex. I'm more worried about having hepatitis B than I am about maybe having to tell people that I am infected. I'm more worried that I might have to tell people I'm infected than I am about having hepatitis B. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Getting tested NOT getting tested Check the facts Decide what's next Certainty 1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Hepatitis B causes inflammation of the liver. It is spread through infected blood and body fluids. Hepatitis B is spread most often during sexual contact and when people share needles to inject drugs. Hepatitis B can also be spread when an infected person shares items such as razors or toothbrushes. Sometimes a baby is infected at birth because the mother has hepatitis B. Many people have hepatitis B for years without knowing it, because they have no symptoms. Hepatitis B can cause serious liver problems, such as cirrhosis, liver cancer, or liver failure. But some people never have serious problems. Most adults who get hepatitis B have it for a short time and then get better on their own. You can have a blood test to find out if you have hepatitis B. A small amount of blood is drawn from your arm. The blood is sent to a lab. The test looks for hepatitis B antibodies. Having these antibodies means that you have been exposed to hepatitis B, but it does not mean that you now have an active infection. If the test shows that you have been exposed to hepatitis B, your blood may be tested again to see if the virus is still in your blood. The second test shows whether you have an active hepatitis B infection. For the second test, the lab may use some of the blood that was already drawn, or you may need to have more blood drawn. If you find out that you have hepatitis B, you have to decide whether to get treatment. Your doctor might advise you to get tested for hepatitis B if: These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. "I have been sexually active for years and have had at least a dozen sex partners. I'm going to have a hepatitis B test. I have a friend who went through treatment a year or so ago. He was pretty miserable, but he came out all right. If he can do it, I can. I think I owe it to myself to find out if I have hepatitis B." — Jax, age 40 "I had several sex partners when I was in my 20s, but I don't consider myself promiscuous. I sometimes worry that I could have hepatitis B, but I think the odds are in my favor that I don't have it, so I'm not going to be tested." — Karen, age 33 "I did drugs in my teens and shared needles a couple of times. I just recently read an article about hepatitis B, and I think I'll get tested. I don't want to deal with the treatment decision right now, but I want to know if I have it." — Malik, age 29 "I lived with a woman who had hepatitis B, and I watched her go through the treatment. She had a rough time of it for a year. I don't think I could handle feeling that sick for so long. So I'm not going to be tested, because I don't think I would go through the treatment even if it turned out I have hepatitis B." — Sam, age 44 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to get tested for hepatitis B Reasons not to get tested for hepatitis B If I tested positive, I would be willing to deal with the side effects of treatment. I wouldn't be willing to put myself through the side effects of treatment. If I tested positive, I would want to tell people I might have given it to, so they could get tested. I wouldn't want to tell people, because I'm worried that it would hurt my relationships. I want to know for sure if I need to use condoms and take other steps so that I don't spread hepatitis B. I'm already careful. I use condoms every time I have sex. I'm more worried about having hepatitis B than I am about maybe having to tell people that I am infected. I'm more worried that I might have to tell people I'm infected than I am about having hepatitis B. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Getting tested NOT getting tested 1.
If I get hepatitis B, I need treatment to get better. 2.
I might never know that I have hepatitis B if I don't get tested. 3.
My getting tested might help other people. 1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? 1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. Current as of: June 12, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review BoardHepatitis B: Should I Be Tested?
Hepatitis B: Should I Be Tested?
1
Facts2
Options3
Feelings4
Decision5
Yourself6
Get the facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is hepatitis B?
What is the test for hepatitis B?
What are the benefits of getting tested?
What are the risks of getting tested?
Why might your doctor recommend that you get tested?
Compare your options
Personal stories about hepatitis B testing
What matters most to you?
Where are you leaning now?
What else do you need to make your decision?
Your Summary
Your decision
Next steps
Which way you're leaning
How sure you are
Your comments
Your knowledge of the facts
Key concepts that you understood
Key concepts that may need review
Getting ready to act
Patient choices
Credits
Author Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.Hepatitis B: Should I Be Tested?
1. Get the Facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is hepatitis B?
What is the test for hepatitis B?
What are the benefits of getting tested?
What are the risks of getting tested?
Why might your doctor recommend that you get tested?
2. Compare your options
Get tested for hepatitis B Don't get tested for hepatitis B What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? Personal stories
Personal stories about hepatitis B testing
3. What matters most to you?
4. Where are you leaning now?
5. What else do you need to make your decision?
Check the facts
Decide what's next
Certainty
By Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
FAQs
Get tested for hepatitis B Get tested for hepatitis B
Don't get tested for hepatitis B Don't get tested for hepatitis B
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You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.
Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
FAQs
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Equally important
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You're right. People with hepatitis B may not need treatment if the disease hasn't caused any liver problems. But treatment may keep long-term hepatitis B infection from causing serious liver problems.
You're right. Hepatitis B often causes no symptoms, so many people don't know that they have it until they get tested.
That's right. If you have hepatitis B, you can take steps so that you don't give it to others.
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Very sure
Credits