Which marker is not typically present during the acute phase of hepatitis B infection?

During the acute phase of hepatitis B infection, the body is responding to the viral infection, and specific serological markers reflect this response. The presence of certain markers indicates the ongoing infection and the immune response.

The marker that is typically absent during the acute phase of hepatitis B is Anti-HBs (antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen). Anti-HBs develops after recovery from the infection or after vaccination against hepatitis B. Initially, during the acute phase, the patient will have active viral replication, which is reflected by the presence of HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) and HBeAg (hepatitis B e antigen), as these indicate active infection. Additionally, Anti-HBc (antibody to hepatitis B core antigen) appears in the early phase of infection and remains detectable throughout the infection course, even after HBsAg becomes negative.

Therefore, Anti-HBs, which signifies either recovery from hepatitis B or successful vaccination, is not expected to be present during an acute hepatitis B infection.