Hepatitis Serology

Front 1

anti-HAV IgM

(Hepatitis A Virus)

Back 1

Positive = Acute infection (think IgM, M=Miserable)

Patient is contagious at this point (fecal-oral route)

Liver enzymes will also be elevated (=> 10x ULN)

Front 2

anti-HAV IgG

Back 2

Positive= Antibodies are present, patient is immune, but no active disease if IgM is negative (think IgG, G=Gone)

Could be history of infection or vaccination

Normal hepatic enzymes and not infectious

Front 3

anti-HAV Negative

Back 3

N=Never had

Still susceptible to disease

Front 4

HBsAg

(Hepatitis B surface Antigen)

Back 4

Means there is active infection

Front 5

HBeAg

Back 5

Active viral replication, active infection
(E=extra contagious!!)

Front 6

HBcAb

(or Anti-HBc or HBcIgG)

Back 6

Basically means current or past Hepatitis infection - this is not produced by vaccination, so indicates patient was at some point exposed to the virus

Will be IgM if in acute or current infection; could also signal a flare up of chronic infection

If IgG means it is > 6 months out and in chronic state

Front 7

HBsAb

(or Anti-HBs)

Back 7

Immunity to Hep B virus

This can be from immunization or exposure to the virus itself that was cleared

Front 8

HBcAb with HBsAg

Back 8

Means you have chronic infection

Front 9

HBcAb with HBsAb

Back 9

Means you were exposed to the virus, but it resolved - you do NOT have chronic disease

Front 10

Anti-HCV

Back 10

Hepatitis C antibody
Screening test for Hep C
Up to 85% of cases become carriers of Hep C
A positive anti-HCV does not always mean that the patient has recovered from the infection and developed immunity as it does with Hep A and B. It may indicate current infection

If this test is positive, order HCV-RNA or HCV PCR to rule out chronic infection

Front 11

HCV-RNA

Back 11

Indicates active or chronic Hep C

If absent with a positive anti-HCV, means patient had Hep C in the past, but it is not chronic - again the antibody is not protective against future exposures