HAV – Hepatitis A Testing:
Why HAV – Hepatitis A Test ?
CLINICAL INFORMATION
The liver is the most important organ that performs a variety of functions for the normal functioning of the body which includes the synthesis of major biomolecules such as enzymes, hormones etc, stores vitamins, sugars and iron to help give the body energy, regulates the metabolites such as cholesterol, clears the metabolic end-products from the blood, synthesis of clotting factors, produces immune factors to combat infections, releases bile for the absorption of fats etc. Hepatitis a virus (is also known as hep A or HAV) is the most common cause of inflammation to the liver. It causes mild to severe illness. Hepatitis A is spread by eating or drinking contaminated foods and/or water (foodborne viral disease). Hence it is common in places like low-socioeconomic conditions with poor sanitation and hygiene conditions (feco-oral transmission). It can also be spread by unprotected sex, multiple sex partners, sharing needles, travel to endemic places (countries) with hepatitis A, high-density populations (over-crowded populations) etc. clinical manifestations include flu-like symptoms, poor appetite, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dark urine, pale stools, jaundice, itchy skin etc. other clinical manifestations include hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, bradycardia, lymphadenopathy, elevated transaminase enzyme levels, fulminant liver failure, encephalopathy, pancreatitis, aplastic anaemia, Guillain-Barre syndrome, transverse myelitis, tubular necrosis, interstitial nephritis, glomerulonephritis, cryoglobulinemia, reactive arthritis, pleural and/or pericardial effusion etc. IgG is the most common immunoglobulins or antibodies (blood proteins) synthesized by the immune system. These IgG are present in the blood and other body fluids. Immunoglobulin IgG subtype protects against bacterial and viral infections. Hepatitis A diagnosis is performed by the detection of viral hepatitis A viral antigens, antibodies (eg. IgG, IgM etc) against anti-viral hepatitis A virus, PCR, NAAT etc. Positive test result suggests recent or current infection or history of a past infection, assess immunity etc. Additional tests include CMIA for the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies. Other tests include liver function test and liver enzymes to measure potential liver damage (liver inflammation) caused by a hepatitis-B virus (i.e enzyme assays) such as Alanine Amino-Transferase (ALT) elevated during inflammation of the liver, PCR to measure HBV –DNA, fibro scan for transient elastography and Aspartate Amino-Transferase (AST) to platelet ratio for the assessment of liver cirrhosis, ultrasound, liver biopsy etc.
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - Blood sample collected from the vein. Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RT DIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centres to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
