Hepatitis B viral load is the amount of hepatitis B virus (HBV) found in a person’s bloodstream.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can pass from person to person through bodily fluids. It typically affects the liver and can lead to liver disease.
Acute hepatitis B usually goes away without treatment in approximately 6 months and does not cause further health conditions.
Chronic hepatitis B typically lasts for longer than 6 months, and a person may need ongoing treatment to manage it.
A healthcare professional can perform a hepatitis B viral load blood test to determine the amount of HBV in a person’s bloodstream.
This article discusses hepatitis B viral load and how to interpret viral load test results. It also explains the hepatitis B phases, treatment, and vaccines.
Hepatitis B viral load describes the amount of HBV a person has in their bloodstream.
The hepatitis B viral load
According to the British Liver Trust, a hepatitis B viral load test can help determine the likelihood that HBV may pass to others through the bloodstream or other bodily fluids.
The test can also help determine whether a person has acute or chronic hepatitis B and what phase the hepatitis B infection is in.
Research from 2022 suggests that a hepatitis B viral load test is the best way to determine how likely it is that a person will go on to develop liver disease.
Learn about the difference between acute and chronic hepatitis B.
There are several blood tests that a healthcare professional may use to identify hepatitis B.
The hepatitis B viral load blood test measures the levels of HBV in the bloodstream using a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, which gives accurate results.
The PCR technique involves using a machine to multiply the DNA from a blood sample to determine the amount of HBV present.
Hepatitis B viral load blood tests are essential for monitoring the progression of hepatitis B and examining whether any ongoing treatment is working.
Learn about hepatitis B screening.
Below is a table to help a person interpret and understand hepatitis B viral load test results. Healthcare professionals typically measure hepatitis B viral load using international units per milliliter (IU/mL).
| Level of HBV (IU/mL) | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 0 to 500 | a harmless trace with a low chance of passing the virus on |
| 500 to 5,000 | unlikely to cause harm with a low risk of passing the virus on |
| 5,000 to 250,000 | low risk, however virus can pass on through blood if it enters an open wound |
| 250,000 to 1 million | medium risk of passing the virus on through blood and sexual fluids |
| 1 million to 1 billion | high risk of passing the virus on through blood and sexual fluids |
- Phase one: The incubation or viral replication phase, in which a person does not typically present any symptoms. However, results from a hepatitis B viral load blood test will typically be high.
- Phase two: The prodromal phase, which typically occurs after 12 weeks of phase one. A person may experience symptoms such as:
- Phase three: The icteric phase in which the enzyme levels in the liver typically rise, which can lead to symptoms such as:
- jaundice
- pain in the liver due to inflammation
- dark colored urine
- pale colored stools
- Phase four: The convalescent phase typically describes when enzyme levels in the liver return to previous levels and symptoms start to resolve in viral hepatitis. When a person has hepatitis B, they may experience improvement in symptoms. However, this phase can also see an escalation of symptoms, symptom flare-ups, and, in rare cases, a fast progression to liver disease.
Learn about the life cycle of hepatitis B.
If a person has acute hepatitis B, the immune system usually fights off the virus without treatment. Research from 2023 suggests that
A person with acute hepatitis B can help recovery by:
- following a nutritious, balanced diet
- getting regular exercise
- drinking plenty of fluids
- limiting alcohol consumption
- getting plenty of rest
If a person has chronic hepatitis B, they may also be able to manage the virus without treatment. However, some people may need to take antiviral medications for their lifetime.
According to the
Antiviral medications for chronic hepatitis B can include:
- interferons, such as peginterferon alfa 2a
- nucleoside analogs, such as entecavir
- nucleotide analogs, such as adefovir
Learn more about treatment options for hepatitis B.
According to the
A healthcare professional typically administers the hepatitis B vaccine in two or three shots.
Healthcare professionals typically recommend a person receives the hepatitis B vaccine if they are:
- an infant
- a child or adolescent under the age of 19 years who did not receive the vaccine as an infant
- ages 19 to 59 years
- over the age of 60 years and at risk of contracting hepatitis B
Read more about the hepatitis B vaccine.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can spread from person to person through blood or other bodily fluids.
There are several tests that can provide more information about the type of hepatitis B a person has.
Hepatitis B viral load defines the amount of HBV in the bloodstream.
A hepatitis B viral load blood test examines the amount of HBV present in the blood, which can help a healthcare professional decide whether a person has acute or chronic hepatitis B, how the virus is progressing, and whether a person is likely to develop liver disease.