Public Health Division

Lab Test Details

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
Updated	12/8/2025
Search Terms	HBs Ag
How to Order	On the Virology/Immunology Test Request Form (OHA0042), in the “Hepatitis” section, check the box for "Hepatitis B Surface Antigen."
Availability	All clients
Performed	Daily on regular business days
Time to Reporting	Within 3 working days after receipt of specimen
CPT Code	87340

Specimen Collection Details
Collection	One 7 ml red top tube or serum separator tube (SST). If SST tubes are used, follow instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Optimal Volume	Blood: 5 ml; Serum 1.5 ml
Minimum Volume	Blood: 3 ml; Serum 0.75 ml
Handling	After blood clots, store specimens at refrigerated temperatures (2-8°C) pending transport. If possible, remove the serum from the clot as soon as possible. Specimen must be tested within 6 days of collection. DO NOT FREEZE WHOLE BLOOD. If specimen cannot be tested within 6 days, remove serum from the clot and freeze serum at -20C. Specimen must be tested within 30 days.
Transport	Package specimens with fully frozen ice packs to maintain refrigerated temperatures during transport. If serum is frozen, package specimens with dry ice to maintain frozen temperatures during transport. Specimen must be tested within 30 days.
Rejection Criteria	Specimens with anticoagulant, visible contamination, cadaver specimens, heat inactivated, and grossly hemolyzed specimens. Refrigerated specimens not tested within 6 calendar days of specimen collection. Frozen specimens not tested within 30 calendar days of specimen collection. Specimens are subject to the requirements of the OSPHL Specimen Submission Policy (pdf).
Comments	Original material submitted for testing is retained for 7 calendar days after receipt at the laboratory. This test is intended for the qualitative detection of hepatitis B surface antigen in human serum. Positive hepatitis B surface antigen tests should be confirmed; confirmation is not performed at OSPHL. The assay may also be used to screen for HBV infection in pregnant people to identify neonates who may be risk for acquiring hepatitis B during the perinatal period. Assay results, in conjunction with other laboratory results and clinical information, may be used to provide presumptive evidence of infection with the hepatitis B virus in persons with signs and symptoms of hepatitis and in persons at risk for hepatitis B infection. This test may not be used for newborn infants in their first 28 days of life (neonates) born to mothers/birth parents who are infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or suspected to be HBV-infected.

Method Details
Methodology	Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) on the Abbott Diagnostics Alinity i platform
Performance Specifications	Detailed information about assay performance can be obtained by contacting the manufacturer of the testing platform, Abbott Diagnostics, or on the US Food and Drug Administration website.

Change Log
12/8/2025	Updated Comments
1/30/2025	Reviewed, no revisions