Mascot Healthcare · Akoka, Lagos
Hepatitis
B & C
Testing
HBsAg · Anti-HBs · Anti-HBc · Anti-HCV · Liver Infection Screening
Nigeria has more than 20 million chronic hepatitis B carriers — making it one of the highest-burden countries in the world. Most carriers don't know they are infected. Untreated chronic hepatitis B causes cirrhosis and liver cancer. Testing identifies infection, immunity, and carrier status — the first step to protecting yourself and others.
Same-day
Rapid HBsAg
Result
Result
B & C
Both Viruses
Screened
Screened
100%
Confidential
Results
Results
Hepatitis Panel
HBsAg (Hepatitis B)
Reactive
Active hepatitis B infection — treatment assessment needed
LFT + Viral load next step
Also Tested
Anti-HBs · HCV
About the Tests
Screening. Immunity. Carrier Status.
Hepatitis B serology is not a single test — it's a panel that distinguishes active infection, past infection with immunity, vaccination immunity, and uninfected/non-immune status. Each combination has different clinical implications and recommended actions. Understanding the panel ensures you act on the right information.
HBsAg — Active Infection Screening
HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) is the primary screening test. Reactive = active hepatitis B infection (acute or chronic carrier). Requires follow-up with LFT, HBeAg, and viral load to assess severity and treatment need. This is the test employers and NYSC require.
Anti-HBs — Immunity Status
Anti-HBs (surface antibody) indicates immunity — from vaccination or recovery from past infection. A level above 10 IU/L confirms protection. Below 10 IU/L means you are not immune and need vaccination. Checking anti-HBs before vaccination prevents unnecessary doses in already-immune individuals.
Anti-HCV — Hepatitis C Screening
Anti-HCV (hepatitis C antibody) screens for past or current hepatitis C exposure. Unlike hepatitis B, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C — but there are highly effective curative antiviral treatments. A reactive anti-HCV requires confirmatory testing to establish active infection. Early treatment prevents cirrhosis.
When to Test
Five Reasons to Get Hepatitis Testing
01
Never Been Tested — Everyone Should Know Their Status
Given Nigeria's high hepatitis B prevalence, every adult should be tested at least once. Most carriers have no symptoms for years — they discover their status only after liver damage is advanced. Testing at any age allows early intervention before the liver is irreparably harmed.
02
Before Vaccination — Check Immunity First
Before starting the hepatitis B vaccine series, an anti-HBs test checks whether you are already immune (from past vaccination or unrecognised infection). If anti-HBs is already above 10 IU/L, vaccination is unnecessary — saving time and cost.
03
Pre-Employment or NYSC Medical Requirements
Most Nigerian employers, healthcare institutions, and the NYSC require HBsAg testing as part of pre-employment screening. We provide certified results on clinic letterhead, signed and stamped by our medical officer — accepted across Lagos and nationally.
04
Pregnancy — Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission
An HBsAg-positive mother transmits hepatitis B to 70–90% of her newborn children without intervention. With proper management (infant vaccination + HBIG at birth), transmission drops below 5%. Every pregnant woman should be screened at her first antenatal visit — this is potentially life-changing for the child.
05
Known Hepatitis B — Annual Monitoring
Chronic hepatitis B carriers require regular LFT and liver ultrasound to detect early liver cancer (HCC) — which develops silently. Annual hepatitis panel combined with LFT guides decisions about when antiviral treatment is needed and monitors treatment response.
Hepatitis B Serology Interpretation
HBsAg+ / Anti-HBs−
Active infection
HBsAg− / Anti-HBs+
Immune
HBsAg− / Anti-HBs−
Vaccinate
Anti-HBc+ only
Past infection
⚕️ A reactive HBsAg alone is not sufficient to guide treatment decisions. LFT, HBeAg, and viral load are needed to determine whether antiviral therapy is indicated and how urgently.
Preparation
How to Prepare for Your Hepatitis Test
Hepatitis B and C testing requires virtually no preparation — making it easy to combine with other blood tests in one visit.
🍽️
No Fasting or Special Preparation
Hepatitis serology tests are not affected by food, drink, or medications. You can eat normally before your test. If combining with LFT or glucose testing (recommended for hepatitis B carriers), fast 8 hours for those tests — hepatitis antibody tests themselves need no preparation.
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Know Your Vaccination History
Tell us whether you have received hepatitis B vaccines and how many doses. This information affects how we interpret an anti-HBs result. If you completed the vaccine series but anti-HBs is low (<10 IU/L), you may need a booster — an interpretation that requires knowing you were vaccinated.
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Results Are Strictly Confidential
Hepatitis status is sensitive medical information. We do not disclose your result to your employer, family, or partner without your explicit consent. For pre-employment HBsAg testing, we provide a clean certificate confirming the test was done — the actual result is discussed with you first.
Why Choose Us
Trusted Hepatitis Testing in Akoka & Beyond
Full Panel — Not Just HBsAg
We offer the complete hepatitis B serology panel: HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc. This gives the full clinical picture — active infection, immunity status, and past exposure — rather than a single reactive/non-reactive answer that leaves patients without context.
Combined LFT and Hepatitis Panel Available
Hepatitis B carriers need liver function testing alongside their hepatitis panel. We offer both in a single visit — one blood draw, comprehensive liver assessment. The combination tells you not just that you have hepatitis B but how much liver damage has occurred.
Result Counselling Included
Hepatitis B results require explanation — HBsAg reactive does not mean the same thing as anti-HBc reactive only. We explain what your result means, what it doesn't mean, and what action it requires. You leave informed, not anxious.
Referral Pathway for Positive Results
A positive HBsAg needs specialist follow-up. We provide results with a clear explanation of next steps and can direct you to appropriate gastroenterology or hepatology services — ensuring a positive result leads to care rather than confusion.
"I found out I was HBsAg positive at Mascot Healthcare. They sat with me, explained exactly what it meant, what it didn't mean, and what to do next. The counsellor was calm and knowledgeable. Within a week I had a hepatologist appointment and a viral load result. That guidance was everything."
5,000+
Hepatitis Tests
4.9★
Patient Rating
B & C
Both Screened
Same-day
HBsAg Result
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Book Your Hepatitis Test
Nigeria Has 20 Million Hepatitis B Cases. Test First. Treat Early.
Book your appointment ahead. Located at 52 Sholanke Street, Off Chemist Junction, Akoka, Lagos.
Monday – Saturday · 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Closed Sundays & Public Holidays
Rapid HBsAg same-day · Confidential counselling included · Walk-in, no appointment needed