Hepatitis B virus serology. Loss of antibody to surface antigen

A retrospective review of hepatitis B serologies from 6,686 patients was conducted to determine the incidence of loss of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) with retention of antibody to the core antigen of hepatitis B virus (anti-HBc) activity. In a subgroup of 48 multiply tested patients who were presumed to have resolved their acute or subacute hepatitis B virus infection, 9 (19%) were found to have lost anti-HBs while retaining anti-HBc activity.