Special Precautions/Comments:

Interferences: Interference may be encountered with certain sera containing antibodies directed against reagent components. For this reason, assay results should be interpreted taking into consideration the patient’s medical history and the results of any other tests performed.

Method: Enzyme-Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA). Calibration: VIDAS assay kit standard. EQA scheme: NEQAS.  IQC: VIDAS commercial preparations.

Interpretation: Results are reported as NOT detected (negative) or DETECTED (positive). A positive result indicates immunity to hepatitis A. A negative result indicates susceptibility to hepatitis A.

Additional Information:

Background information:  A diagnosis of recent Hepatitis A viral infection is usually indicated by a positive anti-HAV IgM serology, with positive results usually being detected when the patient becomes symptomatic. The subsequent appearance of IgG antibody signals recovery and immunity.

The detection of anti-HAV total immunoglobulin allows for the patient’s immune status to be determined.

In developed countries, improved hygiene and water quality have decreased the prevalence of Hepatitis A infection, which is exclusively faecal/oral transmitted.. Infection can be severe, fulminant, cholestatic or relapsing. The recent development of vaccines eliminates the risk of contracting viral Hepatitis A in exposed populations (travellers to endemic regions, sewer workers, drug addicts, male homosexuals).