What are hepatitis A, B, and C blood tests?
Hepatitis is a general term that means inflammation of the liver.
Hepatitis A, B, and C are infections of the liver caused by
different viruses. The blood tests described here help determine
if hepatitis is caused by one of these viruses.
Why are these tests done?
There are many possible causes of hepatitis. These blood tests
help determine if the liver inflammation is resulting from
infection with the hepatitis A, B, or C viruses.
How do I prepare for this test?
You don't need to take any special precautions or change your diet
before your have this test.
How is the test done?
A small amount of blood is taken from your arm with a needle. The
blood is collected in tubes and sent to a lab.
Having this test will take just a few minutes of your time. There
is no risk of getting AIDS, hepatitis, or any other blood-borne
disease from this test.
How will I get the test result?
Ask your healthcare provider when and how you will get the result
of your test.
What do the test results mean?
The results of the various hepatitis blood tests are summarized
below. These tests are divided into two groups. The first group
tests for the presence of the virus in the blood. These are called
antigen tests. The second group tests for the body's reaction to
the infection. These are called antibody tests.
- Hepatitis A infection: A positive antigen test (called an HAV
or hepatitis A virus test) and a positive antibody test
(called an IgM anti-HAV antibody test) mean you currently have
an acute hepatitis A infection. If you have had hepatitis in
the past, your antigen test will be negative, but the antibody
test will be positive.
- Hepatitis B infection: A positive antigen test (called an
HBsAg or hepatitis B virus surface antigen test) and a
positive antibody test (called IgM anti-HBc or IgM hepatitis B
virus core antibody test) mean you currently have an acute
hepatitis B infection. If you have had hepatitis for 6 months
or more (chronic hepatitis), the antigen test will be positive
but the antibody test will be negative. If you have had shots
to protect you against hepatitis, the antigen test will be
negative and the antibody test will be positive.
- Hepatitis C infection: A positive antibody test (called an
anti-HCV or antibody to hepatitis C virus test) means you
currently have an acute hepatitis C infection. To check for
chronic infection, tests are done to measure the amounts of
specific hepatitis C viral proteins (antigens) present in the
blood. If these tests remain positive for several months, the
disease is said to be chronic. In other words, your body
wasn't able to completely clear the infection.
What if my test result is not normal?
Test results are only one part of a larger picture that takes into
account your medical history and current health. Sometimes a test
needs to be repeated to check the first result. Talk to your
healthcare provider about your result and ask questions.
If your test results are not normal, ask your healthcare provider:
- if you need additional tests
- when you need to be tested again.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
© 2009 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
This
information is approved and/or reviewed by U-M Health System providers
but it is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for medical
treatment. You should speak to your physician or make
an appointment to be seen if you have questions or concerns about
this information or your medical condition.