Hepatitis A Virus Test: Why It Is Done
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Why It Is Done
Hepatitis virus testing is done to:
- Identify the type of hepatitis virus causing a hepatitis infection.
- Screen people (such as doctors, dentists, and nurses) who have an increased chance of getting or spreading hepatitis A.
- Screen potential blood donors and donor organs to prevent the spread of hepatitis A.
- Find out whether a person has antibodies after getting a hepatitis A vaccine. If you had this vaccine and you now have antibodies to the hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV antibodies) in your blood, this means the vaccination was effective (you are immune to hepatitis A).
- Find out if a hepatitis A infection is the cause of abnormal liver function tests.
| Last updated: | September 09, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, W. Thomas London, MD - Hepatology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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