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Interpretation of Isolated Hepatitis B Core Antibody

You answered:

The isolated anti-HBc test has a greater than 95% likelihood of representing a false positive result, and thus the patient should be considered negative for acute or prior HBV infection.

This answer is incorrect. False positive anti-HBc tests can occur in up to 20% (not 95%) of persons tested, with the actual frequency depending on the assay used and the population screened. In this patient, whose intravenous drug use places him at increased risk for HBV infection, scenarios other than a false-positive test are more likely.

Choose another answer:

	A finding of isolated anti-HBc may represent either acute or past infection with hepatitis B.
	A finding of isolated anti-HBc most likely represents a weak response to hepatitis B vaccine, and the patient probably just doesn't remember that he's been vaccinated.
	Persons with HIV and chronic HCV infection have the lowest prevalence of isolated anti-HBc because they generate enhanced levels of anti-HBs that remain elevated on a long-term basis.

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