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Blood Test Tracker

Hepatitis B e antibody (anti-HBe)

An antibody to the hepatitis B e antigen. In someone with hepatitis B, a positive result is often linked to the virus being less active.

AI-verified against cited sources. Awaiting expert reviewAlso called Anti-HBe, HBeAb, HBe AbLOINC 13953-5

What it is

Anti-HBe, also written HBeAb, is the antibody your body makes against HBeAg, a protein released while the hepatitis B virus multiplies. It usually appears after HBeAg goes away, a change called seroconversion. Doctors check it in people who already have hepatitis B, along with HBeAg, HBsAg, viral load (HBV DNA) and liver blood tests. It isn't part of routine hepatitis B screening.

Why it matters

In someone with long-term hepatitis B, moving from HBeAg-positive to anti-HBe-positive is often linked to the infection entering a quieter phase. It's also used to follow how someone is doing over time. It can't be read alone. Some people with a positive anti-HBe still have active virus, so viral load and liver tests matter too.

If it’s high

A positive result means your body has made antibodies to HBeAg. In people with hepatitis B, this is often linked to the virus being less active than when HBeAg was positive, but not always. In people whose HBsAg is negative, it can be part of the pattern after a past infection that has cleared.

Common causes

  • Seroconversion in long-term hepatitis B: HBeAg is lost and anti-HBe appears
  • Recovery from a new hepatitis B infection
  • The inactive phase of long-term hepatitis B
  • HBeAg-negative long-term hepatitis B, where the virus can still be active

What can help

  • Ask your clinician how often to repeat viral load, liver tests and HBsAg
  • Ask whether a positive anti-HBe changes how your hepatitis B is monitored
  • Ask about testing and vaccination for the people you live with and for sexual partners

What can affect your result

  • It only has real meaning alongside HBsAg and HBeAg
  • Results change as long-term hepatitis B moves between phases
  • Biotin supplements can interfere with some immunoassays
  • Mayo Clinic Laboratories asks patients to avoid biotin (vitamin B7) supplements for 24 hours before its chronic hepatitis B screen, which reflexes to this test.
  • The result is read together with HBsAg, HBeAg, viral load and liver tests, and has little meaning alone.

Usually appears after HBeAg goes away, which can take months to years in long-term infection.

When to talk to a clinician

A positive anti-HBe is not urgent by itself. Talk with your clinician to go over it with your other hepatitis B results. Get urgent care for yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, severe belly pain or confusion.

Questions you could ask

  • What phase of hepatitis B do my results fit?
  • What does my anti-HBe result say about how active the virus is?
  • How often should my viral load and liver tests be repeated?

Questions people ask

Is a positive anti-HBe good news?

Often it's a favorable sign in someone with hepatitis B, because it is usually linked to the virus becoming less active. It isn't a guarantee, though. Your clinician will look at viral load, liver tests and HBsAg too.

Is anti-HBe the same as anti-HBs?

No. Anti-HBs is the protective antibody that vaccines produce. Anti-HBe is a different antibody against a different protein, and the vaccine does not produce it.

Show the science and sources

For clinicians and researchers

Anti-HBe appears after HBeAg clearance. In the AASLD 2018 phase scheme, the inactive phase is HBeAg-negative and anti-HBe-positive with HBV DNA below 2,000 IU/mL and persistently normal ALT/AST. Anti-HBe positivity also occurs in HBeAg-negative immune-active disease (HBV DNA above 2,000 IU/mL with raised ALT/AST), so a positive result does not show inactive disease by itself. CDC 2023 notes that anti-HBe can be used to monitor response to treatment. Mayo Clinic Laboratories reflexes HBeAg and anti-HBe once a screening HBsAg is confirmed positive. Hepatitis B vaccination does not induce anti-HBe, since the vaccine contains only HBsAg.

LOINC 13953-5 (primary), 22320-6, 5189-6. Specimen: serum-or-plasma.

Sources

  1. Screening and Testing for Hepatitis B Virus Infection: CDC Recommendations — United States, 2023, MMWR Recommendations and Reports (CDC) (2023)
  2. Update on Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B: AASLD 2018 Hepatitis B Guidance, Hepatology (AASLD) (2018)
  3. Chronic Hepatitis B Screen, Serum (test CHBVS), Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Extended Catalog)

AI-verified against cited sources. Awaiting expert review. Last reviewed 2026-10-03. How we build and check these pages.

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