Diagnosis for Hepatitis B
If you think you have been exposed to the hepatitis B virus, contact your GP. He or she will ask about your symptoms and examine you. He or she may also ask you about your medical history. You can also be tested for hepatitis B at your local sexual health clinic.

Hepatitis B can be detected by a blood test. A sample of your blood will be sent to a laboratory for testing to find out if you're infected with the hepatitis B virus. A blood test can detect parts of the virus and measure the activity of the virus and how many viruses are present in your blood. The blood test can also determine if you have been recently infected (acute hepatitis B).

If results show that you're infected with hepatitis B, your GP will refer you to a hepatologist (a doctor who specialises in identifying and treating conditions that affect the liver) to have additional tests. For example, a liver function blood test can measure substances in your blood that indicate any liver damage. You may need to have a liver ultrasound scan so that your doctor can look at an image of your liver. You may also need to have a liver biopsy (small sample of tissue taken) to determine how severe the inflammation is and whether any scarring or cirrhosis has developed if you have chronic hepatitis B.