Changes to the hepatitis B
case definition
2012
Hepatitis B (acute and chronic)
New case definition 2012
Previous case definition
At least one of the following three:
At least one of the following two:
Hepatitis B core IgM (anti-HBc IgM) positive
Anti-HBc IgM
Laboratory criteria Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive AND previous negative HBV
acute cases markers <6 months ago
Hepatitis B nucleic acid (HBV-DNA) positive AND previous negative HBV
HBV-DNA
markers <6 months ago
At least one of the following two:
At least one of the following two:
HBsAg positive and anti-HBc positive and
Laboratory criteria HBsAg or HBV-DNA positive AND anti-HBc IgM negative
anti-HBc IgM negative
chronic cases
HBsAg or HBV-DNA positive on two
HBsAg or HBV-DNA positive on two occasions that are 6 months apart
occasions that are 6 months apart
Cannot be classified as acute/chronic but positive results for at least one of
Laboratory criteria the following:
cases of unknown HBsAg
status
Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)
HBV-DNA
Case classification
Acute only: HBsAg positive and symptoms of
Probable
NA
acute hepatitis B
Confirmed
Laboratory criteria
Laboratory criteria
Resolved hepatitis: Hepatitis B total core antibody (anti-HBc) positive and
Do not notify
HBsAg negative
Immunity following vaccination: Anti-HBc negative
and hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) positive