Test Details: Hepatitis B is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver. HBV is spread through contact with body fluids. Common forms of exposure to HBV often occur during childbirth and infancy, when sharing needles for intravenous drug use, or during unprotected sex. Hepatitis B testing looks for antigens, antibodies, or the genetic material of HBV. Hepatitis B core antibodies appear as the patient develops symptoms of hepatitis, and they remain detectable for life. The results of this test are interpreted alongside other tests to assess recovery from a previous HBV infection and to differentiate between acute and chronic infections. This test detects two types of anti-HBc antibodies, called IgM and IgG anti-HBc antibodies.