Terry's case: A Youth at Risk

You chose 1 (Terry has antibodies against both hepatitis B and C viruses and is thus cured.): that is incorrect.

The correct answer is: 4

He is infected with hepatitis B virus and has evidence of exposure to hepatitis C virus.

Terry is infected with hepatitis B virus, but it is too soon to know if he is a carrier (HBsAg+). To be declared a chronic carrier of hepatitis B, HBsAg carriage must be maintained for at least 6 months.

He has possibly been exposed to hepatitis C virus (anti HCV+) but needs a positive RIBA test to confirm whether or not he has been exposed.

Here is a table of viral hepatitis markers, when they are used and their significance.

Marker	When used	Significance
HBsAg	To detect infection	+ infected/infectious - not infected
HBeAg	To detect high rate replication when HBsAg+	+ high replication - no high replication
HCV antibody EIA	To detect possible infection	+ possibly exposed to HCV, need confirmation - not exposed to HCV
RIBA	To confirm HCV infection if EIA+

 

See: Key serologic markers of viral hepatitis in the Canadian STD Guidelines, 1998 Edition, p.117-118