The Anti-HBc (Antibody to Hepatitis B Core Antigen) test detects antibodies produced against the hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg), a protein found in the inner core of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). Unlike the surface antigen, the core antigen itself is not detectable in the blood, but the antibodies against it are a reliable marker of HBV exposure.
This test is used to determine whether a person has been exposed to or is currently infected with the Hepatitis B virus. It helps distinguish between current infection, past infection (and possible immunity), and can detect infections that might be missed by other tests.
