Hepatitis is caused by different viruses and diagnosed through hepatitis serologic tests, which detect antibodies produced by the body to fight the virus. Different tests are used to determine the type of virus, the severity of the infection, and whether it is acute or chronic. Symptoms include nausea, loss of appetite, fever, and abdominal pain.
Hepatitis is a condition that causes inflammation of the liver. This condition is often caused by different types of hepatitis viruses. These include hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis E virus (HEV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis D virus (HDV). ). Blood testing for the diagnosis and management of infection with these viruses involves the use of various hepatitis serologic tests. Examples of these hepatitis serology tests are hepatitis A serology, hepatitis C serology, and hepatitis B serology.
When a patient has an infection caused by the hepatitis virus, the body produces cells called antibodies. These antibodies are created to fight the specific type of virus that has caused the infection. There are two subtypes of antibodies usually tested in hepatitis serology, IgG and IgM. The presence of IgM often indicates a recent or ongoing infection, while IgG frequently reveals a past or already resolved infection.
HAV infection usually stimulates the immune system to release specific antibodies known as anti-HAV. Hepatitis A serology often uses anti-HAV and anti-HAV IgM tests. The HAV test usually determines the presence of antibodies to HAV, but cannot tell whether the infection is recent or resolved. The anti-HAV IgM test, however, can be used to diagnose a recent or acute hepatitis A infection.
HBV contains various materials that stimulate the body to produce specific antibodies against them. Examples are antibodies against HBV surface antigen (Hbs), core antigen (Hbc), and e antigen (Hbe). Hepatitis serology for HBV infection includes different tests such as anti-HBs, anti-HBc, anti-HBc IgM and anti-HBe, among others. These serologic tests are often done to detect present or past HBV infection, to determine whether the infection is acute or chronic, to assess the severity of the infection, and to monitor treatment. After vaccination against the hepatitis B virus, an anti-HBs test is often done to check whether the body has developed the antibodies needed to fight infection with the virus.
Hepatitis serology for HCV includes anti-HCV testing. This test frequently determines acute and long-term HCV infection. There are also anti-HDV and anti-HEV for the detection of hepatitis D and E virus infection, respectively.
These hepatitis serologic tests are usually done with a blood sample from the vein of patients suspected of having a hepatitis infection. Common symptoms usually experienced by affected patients include nausea, loss of appetite, fever, and right upper abdominal pain. Some patients may also develop jaundice, which is a condition that causes the eyes and skin to appear yellow. In addition to the hepatitis serologic test, a liver function test may also be performed.
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