Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a highly contagious virus that causes acute liver infection.

IgM antibodies appear early in infection and indicate recent or current HAV infection.

Clinical uses include:

Confirming acute Hepatitis A infection in patients with jaundice, fatigue, or abnormal liver function tests.

Differentiating Hepatitis A from other viral hepatitis types (HBV, HCV, HEV).

Supporting public health surveillance and outbreak investigations.

The test is performed using a blood sample.

Analyte: Anti-HAV IgM antibodies in serum.

Normal Result: Negative (no detectable IgM antibodies).

Abnormal Findings:

Positive Anti-HAV IgM: Indicates acute or recent Hepatitis A infection.

Negative Anti-HAV IgM: Rules out current infection; may suggest past infection or immunity (IgG positive).

Clinical Use:

Provides a specific marker for acute HAV infection.

Helps guide patient management and infection control measures.

Often interpreted alongside liver function tests (ALT, AST, bilirubin).