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Hepatitis B Surface Antigen  

 
IMPORTANT! Pre-approval needed from state or local health department. Local or State Health Department. Send approval to NPHL@unmc.edu or call (402) 559-9444.

NPHL has moved to an electronic ordering system, NUlirt, and it is now the preferred method to order all tests. Once ordered, print a "batch list" (see NUlirt Guide).

Forms Required - Nulirt batch list or NPHL Test Request Form (completed in entirety) must accompany the specimen to include the following information: symptoms and date of onset, pregnancy status, travel and vaccine history. Testing will not be performed without all required information.

Please call NPHL Client Services at (402) 559-2440 or toll free at (800) 334-0459 for further clarification.

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Test: Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
Order in NUlirt or complete NPHL Test Order Form  
Synonym: Australian Antigen; HAA; HBsAg; Hepatitis Associated Antigen  
Method: Chemiluminescence  
Availability: Daily, Results in 24h  
Specimen: Blood  
Collection Device: One 6mL SST (Gold) tube or One 5mL EDTA (Lavender) tube. Specimen Labeling: Test subject to CLIA regulations and requires 2 patient identifiers and specimen source on container.  
Volume: 1mL serum or plasma (0.5mL minimum)  
Storage/Transport:

Prior to and during shipment:  Refrigerate 2-8°C. If sample is not transported to lab the same day as collected, aliquot the serum or plasma. To aliquot: Centrifuge the sample and transfer into a clean tube and label as "serum" or "plasma."
Shipping instructions, including specimen-handling requirements during transport:  Seal screw-top tubes with Parafilm™ or tape and place in biohazard bag with absorbent material.
Place specimen inside leak proof secondary container (biohazard bag and if transporting by air, use Tyvek™ Envelope) with adsorbent material. The secondary container must be packed inside an approved Category B shipping container filled with frozen gel-packs to keep specimen refrigerated. Position NUlirt packing list or NPHL Test Order form between secondary container and box lid. Seal with tape.  Label outer box as UN3373 Category B, Biological Substance. Transport by NPHL ground courier. If courier not available, ship by FedEx, UPS, or USPS (1st Class, Priority or Express Mail). Follow appropriate DOT/IATA Regulation Guidelines.  For assistance, call NPHL State Training Coordinator at (402) 559-3590.  
See instructions and shipping address: http://nphl.org/

NUlirt packing list or appropriate paperwork (completed in entirety) must accompany specimens.

 
Unacceptable: Vacutainers not separated, heparinized plasma  
Specimen Stability: After separation from cells: Ambient: <8 hours; Refrigerated: 14d if separated, 72h if gel serum; Frozen: 1 year (avoid more than 2 freeze/thaw cycles)  
Reference Interval: Nonreactive  
Reportable Disease: Immediately report positive Hepatitis B results to local or state health department. Refer to Nebraska DHHS Title 173, Communicable Diseases  
Comments: Pre-approval needed from state or local health department.  Send approval to NPHL@unmc.edu or call (402) 559-9444.
Report comment: Weakly reactive samples will be confirmed by neutralization. Specimen in positive range: Confirmatory testing is recommended on all reactive (positive) samples collected for prenatal screening. If patient fits this criterion, please call Regional Pathology Services to request confirmatory testing. Confirmation by Neutralization will be sent to a reference laboratory.

Biotin interference:  Serum samples spiked with 10 ng/mL of biotin demonstrated ≤ 10% change in qualitative result.

Biotin Therapy may invalidate results. Some assays may exhibit interference when samples are collected from patients consuming higher than recommended doses of biotin or supplements (including prenatal multivitamins), which also contain biotin. Simple daily supplementation, recommended dosage, is not problematic. It is recommended that all patients be asked if they are consuming high-dose biotin or biotin containing supplements. Patients should be cautioned to stop using biotin-containing supplements at least 72 hours prior testing.

NUlirt packing list or NPHL Test Order Form (completed in entirety) must accompany the specimen.
   
Revised: 7/11/2021 
If you have questions about proper specimen collection, please call NPHL Client Services at (402) 559-2440 or toll free at (800) 334-0459.

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