HEP A AB, W/REFL IGM (HEPATITIS A ANTIBODY, TOTAL, with REFLEX to IgM)

HAV Total; HAV Antibody; HEP A AB, TOTAL.

Hepatitis A, also called hep A, is a contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. Some people have only a mild illness that lasts a few weeks. Others have more severe problems that can last months. You usually get the disease when you eat or drink something contaminated by poop from a person who has the virus.

The hepatitis A virus usually isn’t dangerous. Almost everyone who has it gets better. But because it can take a while to go away, you’ll need to take care of yourself in the meantime. You can also get hepatitis A if you:

• Eat fruits, vegetables, or other foods handled or prepared by a person who has the virus
• Eat raw shellfish harvested from water where the virus lives
• Swallow contaminated ice
• Have sex with someone who has it
• Touch your mouth after touching a contaminated object

Hepatitis A Diagnosis:

• IgM (immunoglobulin M) antibodies-  Your body makes these when you’re first exposed to hepatitis A. They stay in your blood for about 3 to 6 months.
• IgG (immunoglobulin G) antibodies- These show up after the virus has been in your body for a while. You may have them all your life. They protect you against hepatitis A. If you test positive for them but not for IgM antibodies, it means you had a hepatitis A infection in the past or had vaccinations to protect against it.