?:definition
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Serology reagents used to corroborate (i.e., confirm) the results of a previous test for the presence of hepatitis B virus surface antigens. Hepatitis B viruses are DNA viruses of the genus Hepadnavirus, family Hepadnaviridae. These viruses may cause hepatitis, a disease characterized by jaundice and the increase of some enzymes in serum (e.g., aspartate aminotransferase); these viruses may be transmitted percutaneously (e.g., via body piercing, tattooing), parenterally, from mother to child at birth, or by intimate (e.g., sexual) contact. Confirmatory assays frequently use a different approach or a more specific methodology than the original test; they typically cost more and/or require more sophisticated devices or greater skill.
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