What blood tests should be used to screen a pregnant woman for hepatitis B?
HBsAg is the ONLY test that indicates that a woman has an active HBV infection that can be transmitted to her infant. If a woman is found to be HBsAg positive, the most useful additional test would the IgM anti-HBc with a repeat HBsAg which would tell if the woman has an acute infection or if she is chronically infected. Chronicity can also be determined by two positive HBsAg tests six months, or more, apart.
