HBsAg screening is a test that tells you if you have the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in your blood. It’s a blood test that takes less than five minutes to complete. A positive result means you have HBV.
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HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) screening is a blood test that tells you if you have the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBsAg is a protein found on the surface of the virus. The test can detect this protein. A positive result on an HBsAg means you have hepatitis B and are contagious.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
This screening test is the most common test for hepatitis B virus infection. Reasons you may need this screening include:
HBsAg screening is a blood test that tells you if you have a hepatitis B virus infection. Your healthcare provider takes a blood sample from a vein in your arm. Then, they send it to a lab for analysis.
At the lab, the following things happen:
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You don’t need to prepare for the test. You may feel a prick or sting when the needle goes into your vein. A blood draw takes less than five minutes. You can go back to your normal activities after the test.
There are no risks or side effects to the screening. Like all blood draws, you may have bruising or discomfort at the needle site. This is temporary. The test doesn’t expose you to HBV and isn’t harmful to your health.
It can take up to three business days to get your results. Sometimes, you’ll get results within 24 hours. Ask your healthcare provider how long you can expect it to take.
A positive or “reactive” confirmatory test result means you have HBV (if not recently vaccinated). The test found the antigen in your blood sample. If your test is negative, you don’t have an active HBV infection.
Contact your provider if you have questions about your test results. They can explain what your results mean and what comes next for your care.
No one loves giving a blood sample. Especially when the results could mean you have a serious infection like hep B. But HBsAg screening is a very common and accurate way to detect this infection in your blood. If you test positive, your healthcare team can make sure you get the care you need.
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Last reviewed on 06/05/2025.
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