Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) Test in Lucknow - Price & Details

The HBsAg test is a blood test that detects the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), a protein found on the outer surface of the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Finding HBsAg in the blood generally suggests a current hepatitis B infection. Hepatitis B mainly affects the liver and may cause symptoms such as tiredness, fever, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice). However, many people may have no noticeable symptoms. Long-term infection with HBV can increase the risk of liver scarring (cirrhosis), failure, or cancer. HBV spreads mainly through contact with infected blood or certain body fluids. It can be transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, sharing needles or other equipment used for injecting drugs, contaminated medical or personal-care equipment, and from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth. Doctors may recommend an HBsAg test after a known or suspected exposure to HBV, when symptoms suggest hepatitis, or as part of hepatitis B screening. Testing is recommended during every pregnancy, preferably in the first trimester, because an infected mother can pass HBV to her baby. The HBsAg result may be interpreted along with other hepatitis B markers, such as anti-HBs, and total anti-HBc, to better understand a person’s infection status.

• All adults: At least once in a lifetime, regardless of risk factors. Screening is generally done using the HBsAg, anti-HBs, and total anti-HBc triple panel.
• Pregnant women: Routine antenatal testing, ideally in the first trimester.
• Infants: Born to HBsAg-positive mothers.
• People with symptoms: Yellowish eyes and skin (jaundice), fatigue, fever, dark urine, grey or clay-coloured stools, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, joint pain or loss of appetite.
• Known/suspected exposure: People with known or suspected exposure to HBV.

People with ongoing risk of exposure, including:

• History of sexually transmitted infections, multiple partners or practicing unprotected sex
• Past or current hepatitis C infection
• Individuals currently or previously held in a correctional facility or prison
• Birth in HBV-prevalent regions
• Unvaccinated infants of parents from high-prevalence regions
• Injection drug use
• HIV-positive status
• Men who have sex with men
• Household or sexual contacts of an HBV-positive person
• Dialysis patients
• People with diabetes
• Elevated liver enzymes
• Healthcare workers with blood exposure risk
• People who have travelled to high-prevalence countries

The HBsAg test detects the hepatitis B virus itself in the body, hence it is used to detect:

• Active acute hepatitis B: A short-term infection that occurs within the first 6 months after exposure to the virus. Most healthy adults clear the infection on their own and develop lifelong immunity. Symptoms, if present, may include fatigue, jaundice, dark urine, and abdominal discomfort, though many people remain symptom-free.
• Active chronic hepatitis B: Occurs when the immune system is unable to clear the virus within 6 months, resulting in a long-term infection. Chronic hepatitis B often has no noticeable symptoms for years, but it can gradually damage the liver, increasing the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer over time. It is more common in people infected during infancy or early childhood compared to those infected as adults.

Note: The HBsAg test detects the actual virus (surface antigen), a reactive or a positive result means the virus is currently present and the person is infectious.

What to Expect Before the HBsAg Test?

• No fasting is needed for this test. Food and beverages do not affect HBsAg levels.
• The HBsAg test can be performed at any time of the day.
• Tell your doctor about any recent illnesses, medication and supplement use, pregnancy status, recent vaccinations (especially hepatitis B vaccination), transfusion or blood donation history, and recent exposure to blood or body fluids.

What to Expect During the Blood Collection?

• The phlebotomist will first clean the area where the blood sample will be taken, usually the inside of your elbow, using an antiseptic swab. A tourniquet will then be placed around your upper arm to make the vein more visible. You may be asked to gently clench your fist and keep your arm still during the procedure.
• A sterile needle will be inserted into the vein to collect the blood sample. You may experience a brief pinprick or mild stinging sensation as the needle is inserted. The blood will be collected into a sample tube, after which you can relax your hand.
• After the required amount of blood has been collected, the needle will be removed. Gentle pressure will be applied to the puncture site to minimise bleeding, and a small adhesive bandage will be placed over the area.

What to Expect After the HBsAg Test?

• You can usually return to your normal daily activities immediately after the blood sample is collected.
• Mild pain, tenderness, or slight bruising at the blood draw site may occur but typically resolves on its own within a day or two.
• HBsAg test results are usually available within a few hours to 24 hours, depending on the laboratory. Your doctor will interpret the result along with your symptoms and medical history and, if needed, recommend additional tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Note: If you notice anything unusual at the puncture site, such as persistent bleeding, a rash, or pain, consult your healthcare provider.

The HBsAg test detects the hepatitis B surface antigen, a protein found on the outer coat of the hepatitis B virus. Because it detects a piece of the actual virus, a reactive or positive result means the virus is currently present and the person is infectious.

Note: Unlike anti-HBs or anti-HBc, which detect antibodies produced by the body in response to the virus, the HBsAg test detects a protein from the virus itself, making it a direct marker of active infection. A reactive result should always be confirmed with additional testing (HBV DNA PCR or other tests) and reviewed by a doctor, as it does not by itself distinguish between acute and chronic infection.

Potential Risks and Complications

• The HBsAg blood test is generally considered safe and carries very little risk.
• You may experience a brief pinprick, mild pain, tenderness, or slight bruising at the blood draw site, which usually settles within a few days.
• Some people may feel light-headed or faint during or shortly after the blood sample is collected. Although uncommon, there is also a small risk of infection at the puncture site.
• Rarely, excessive bleeding may occur, particularly in people taking blood-thinning medications or those with bleeding disorders.
• In some cases, a haematoma (a small collection of blood beneath the skin) may develop, causing a raised bruise at the needle insertion site.
• These side effects are usually mild, temporary, and resolve without the need for specific treatment.

Understanding HBsAg Test Limitations

• A non-reactive HBsAg result cannot determine whether previously infection with hepatitis B had occurred or if the patient has immunity to it.
• The test cannot determine whether the current infection is acute or chronic.
• The HBsAg test alone cannot determine the severity of disease or the extent of liver damage.
• Sometimes, a reactive result may occur temporarily for a few days after hepatitis B vaccination or due to sample-related or testing factors, even if no infection is present.
• Occasionally, non-reactive results may occur despite infection, if testing was done too soon after exposure, very low levels of the virus are present, or if the causative agent is an HBV variant not detected by the assay.

The HBsAg test is priced at around ₹479, though the exact cost can vary based on your location in Lucknow and available offers. To better understand the pricing differences, you can compare the HBsAg test costs across major cities in India.

You can book the HBsAg Test in Lucknow through PharmEasy with convenient home sample collection across several localities, including :

• Gomti Nagar
• Indira Nagar
• Aliganj
• Mahanagar
• Hazratganj
• Aminabad
• Chowk
• Jankipuram
• Vikas Nagar
• Rajajipuram
• Alambagh
• Ashiyana
• SGPGI
• Chinhat
• Kalyanpur
• Sushant Golf City
• Vrindavan Yojna
• Krishna Nagar
• Nirala Nagar
• Charbagh

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