How fast is the result there?
It takes about 1-2 days to get a result for the hepatitis B test after taking the blood sample. If the test is performed during a stay in hospital, for example, it may be a little faster. In the case of a general practitioner, it may take a little longer depending on the laboratory that this doctor works with. The genetic material of the virus, the DNA can be detectable quite early after infection, the first virus components can be detected in the blood at the earliest 2-4 weeks after infection.
What does such a test cost?
Prices for the test for hepatitis B vary from laboratory to laboratory, but should be between 50-80 Euros. In Internet pharmacies, for example, you can buy rapid tests from 40 euros. If your health insurance company does not pay, the doctor with whom you would like to have the test performed can give you more information about the costs of the laboratory with which he works. Some health authorities also offer a free test for HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B.
Does the health insurance company bear the costs?
If there is a well-founded suspicion of infection with hepatits B, the costs of the test are usually covered by the statutory health insurance. The suspicion is based, for example, on the fact that the patient suffers from typical symptoms or belongs to a risk group (e.g. intravenous drug use, sex workers). If there is a possible trigger (e.g. unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person), a test is also justified and financed. In addition, individual health insurance funds also cover the costs independently of the above-mentioned risk factors. In individual cases this can be inquired at the health insurance company.
Who should have such a test done?
On the one hand, a test for hepatitis B should be performed when a patient has symptoms consistent with a possible hepatitis B infection. On the other hand, risk groups should be tested to detect a silent infection without symptoms before the liver is permanently damaged.Here is a list of the most important groups of people for whom a test for hepatitis B is useful: Patients with liver disease: Elevated liver values, other symptoms of liver inflammation, liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer Persons with a migration background from countries where hepatitis B is more common: South America, Africa, China, Middle East, Eastern and Southern Europe Sex partners of patients diagnosed with hepatitis B Patients before and after organ transplantation, before and after chemotherapy, before and after another immunosuppressive therapy Other risk groups Homosexual men, sex workers, intravenous drug addicts, dialysis patients, patients with HIV and/or hepatitis C infection Pregnant women, children of HBsAg-positive mothers Medical personnel after possible contact with infectious blood (e.g. after needle-stick injuries)
- Patients with liver disease: Elevated liver values, other symptoms of liver inflammation, liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer
- Persons with a migration background from countries where hepatitis B is more common: South America, Africa, China, Middle East, Eastern and Southern Europe
- Sexual partners of patients diagnosed with hepatitis B
- Patients before and after organ transplantation, before and after chemotherapy, before and after another immunosuppressive therapy
- Other risk groups: Homosexual men, sex workers, intravenous drug addicts, dialysis patients, patients with HIV and/or hepatitis C infection
- Pregnant women, children of HBsAg-positive mothers
- Medical personnel after any contact with infectious blood (e.g. after a needle stick injury)
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