Re: Explain this, please

In Reply to: Explain this, please posted by Marty on October 25, 2000 at 14:55:49:

: I gave blood recently and received this letter. Can someone explain if I am going to have problems. I had the hepititis shot several years ago because I teach PE and might come in contact with Hepititis disease. Please respond, thank you. Here is the letter from the company that I donated blood to :

: Dear Martin:

: Your donation, as well as the previous donation tested positive for the Hepatitis B core antibody(IgG?IgM). Don't be concerned . This does not mean you are sickor infectious. You have been exposed and developed an antibody. It will not protect you from contracting Hepatitis. Other test were normal. (HBSAG
well, sharing it with your doc sounds like good advice. I do not understand why they say you are not protected if you have the antibody. yes either exposure or vaccination can--usually will--give a positive test on all later tests (for life, as a rule). but in my layman's understanding, this also means you are protected from reinfection by that particular virus (that is, hep b, in this case) so, the doc's help in interpreting seems key.