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Test Code HAVAB Hepatitis A Virus, IgM Antibody [LAB798]

Test Method

chemiluminescent μ-Capture test principle; Roche cobas Pro

Performance

Testing is performed 7 days a week Monday through Sunday.

Routine specimen requests are completed the same day received.

Stat requests are completed within 4 hours of receipt. 

Useful For

The hepatitis A virus is a RNA‑containing virus that lacks an envelope. It belongs to the family of picornaviruses.  After vaccination or natural infection, the immune response is directed against this structure. Hepatitis A is the most common form of acute viral hepatitis. It is transmitted by the fecal-oral route. The disease has not been known to take a chronic course, nor does the virus persist in the organism.

An acute or recently acquired hepatitis A infection can be assumed if anti‑HAV IgM antibodies are detected. Anti‑HAV IgM antibodies can always be detected at the onset of the disease, and usually disappear 3 to 4 months later. Anti‑HAV IgM can also be detected in some patients for a longer period of time, however. HAV IgM antibodies develop only very rarely after vaccination. Assays to detect anti‑HAV IgM antibodies are used in the differential diagnosis of hepatitis A from other forms of viral hepatitis.

Reference Values

Nonreactive

Performing Laboratory

UnityPoint The Finley Hospital

Specimen Requirements

  1. Serum is the specimen of choice. Gel tubes are acceptable.
  2. Lithium heparin and EDTA plasma are also acceptable specimen types. 
  3. Hepatitis A Antibody IgM specimens are stable for 7 days at 15-25°C, 14 days at 2-8°C, and 3 months at -20°C.