Anti-HBc +, other HBV tests -

I tested "reactive" to the hepatitis B core antibody twice (once
by a blood bank in 2001, confirmed by a second test by my doctor
in 2003).

However, several other hepatitis B tests performed between 2001
and 2006 were negative. Specifically, the following were all
negative:

HB surface antigen
HB surface antibody
HB core IgM
HB "e" antibody
HB viral DNA

I was vaccinated against hepatitis B last year (2006). After
the third (last) dose, I was tested again for anti-HBs, and
this time the test result was positive (whereas previously it
had been negative). Possibly unfortunately, no anti-HBs tests
were performed after the first or second dose of vaccine --
only after the last.

My set of assumptions at this point is that:

(1) the anti-HBc results were most likely false positives;

(2) the other (negative) test results strongly suggest that
I had never had hep-B and had (up till that time) never
been vaccinated against hep-B; and

(3) the positive anti-HBs result after the vaccination series
confirmed that the vaccination had worked and that I am
now immune.

Are there any other plausible explanations for the above set
of test results? Would any other tests be advisable at this
point?

For better or for worse, the positive anti-HBc result means I
am unable to donate blood any more, no matter what any other
test results might say. Too bad, I guess -- my blood type is
AB+, which I'm sure blood banks would like to have if there
weren't this concern over possible HBV.

Rich Wales richw@richw.org * w w w .richw.org
*DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor. My comments are for discussion pur-
poses only and are not intended to be relied upon as medical advice.