<prompt> The most reliable indicator of recent Hepatitls-B infection in a convalescing patient is -IgM Anti HBcIgM Anti F-IBeHBsAgIgGAntiHBs  <response>: Hepatitis B core antigen Hepatitis B core antigen HBcAg is not found in the blood, but antibody to it anti-HBc appears early in the illness and rapidly reaches a high titre, which subsides gradually but then persists. Anti-HBc is initially of IgM type, with IgG antibody appearing later. Anti-HBc IgM can sometimes reveal an acute HBV infection when the HBsAg has disappeared and before anti-HBs has developed Ref Davidson edition23rd pg874 