Positive hepatitis B surface antibodies and hepatitis B core antibodies indicate a previous infection with the hepatitis B virus that has recovered and produced protective antibodies, or a recovery from an acute infection. Hepatitis B core antibodies are usually produced against the hepatitis B core antigen. Hepatitis B core antigens are usually derived from the hepatitis B virus, so if these patients are positive for hepatitis B core antibodies, they have been infected with the hepatitis B virus. These patients have been infected with the hepatitis B virus, but are already positive for hepatitis B surface antibodies, which are protective antibodies, so a positive antibody to these two antibodies generally means that they have been infected with the hepatitis B virus and have either recovered or are in the process of recovering. Patients with these two positive antibodies mean that their condition has recovered or is recovering, and regular review of hepatitis B two-half index can be done without excessive worry.