Question

A patient with an acute HBV infection would be expected to have which set of serological test

results?
Select one:
a. HBsAg +, total anti-HBc +, IgM anti-HBc +, anti-HBs -
b. HBsAg -, total anti-HBc -, IgM anti-HBc -, anti-HBs -
c. HBsAg -, total anti-HBc +, IgM anti-HBc +, anti-HBs -
d. HBsAg -, total anti-HBc +, IgM anti-HBc -, anti-HBs +

Answer 1

For a patient with an acute HBV infection, serological tests would show HBsAg and total anti-HBc to be positive, IgM anti-HBc to be positive (indicating acute infection) and anti-HBs to be negative (since immunity has not developed).

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient with an acute HBV infection would be expected to have the following serological test results: HBsAg + (positive for hepatitis B surface antigen), total anti-HBc + (positive for total antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen), IgM anti-HBc + (positive for IgM antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen), and anti-HBs - (negative for antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen).

These results indicate an active infection since the presence of HBsAg is a direct marker of viral infection. The total anti-HBc is positive in both acute and chronic infections, while the presence of IgM anti-HBc is specifically indicative of an acute phase of infection. The absence of anti-HBs suggests that the patient has not yet developed immunity to the virus, which would be present following recovery or vaccination.