looking for test of hepatitis exposure.

Welcome to e health forum.

Normally screening for hepatitis, is ordered by a doctor if you have symptoms of hepatitis. These symptoms include fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, yellowing of your eyes or skin (jaundice), dark yellow urine, and feeling very tired.

In case you think, you have been exposed to hepatitis, and want to get screened for hepatitis related infections, you can undergo a hepatitis panel of serology tests including

1. Hepatitis A IgM antibodies (HA Ab-IgM)
2. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).
3. Hepatitis C antibodies (HC Ab)

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is the earliest sign of an active hepatitis B infection. This antigen may be present before symptoms of an HBV infection are present. If this antigen is present for more than 6 months, then you probably have a chronic (long-term) HBV infection. This means you can spread HBV to others throughout your life.

Hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) is an HBV protein that is only present during an active HBV infection. This test determines how contagious you are.

Hepatitis C antibodies (HC Ab): Anti-HCV antibody tests look for antibodies to HCV in the blood, indicating an HCV infection has occurred.

With regarding to the best time to check for these infections, for conclusive results (after a possible exposure) is 12 weeks for Hepatitis B and 9 weeks for hepatitis C.

I hope this helps.