Finding the right tests…
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Finding the right tests…
ELISA
Your immune system's first response to a hepatitis A infection is a wave of IgM antibodies, appearing around when symptoms start and fading again within a few months - which is exactly what this blood test measures. Hepatitis A itself spreads mainly through contaminated food, water, or close contact with an infected person, and most adults who catch it develop visible jaundice, unlike young children, who often show no symptoms at all. Doctors order this IgM test specifically in people who already look and feel like they have hepatitis, not as a general screening tool, since testing broadly raises the odds of a confusing false-positive result relative to genuine infections found.
The test reports a simple positive or negative for HAV IgM antibody in your blood. A positive result in someone with symptoms of hepatitis is generally read as confirming a recent hepatitis A infection, usually within the past several months. But this antibody can occasionally stay detectable for more than a year after infection, and it can also show a false positive from unrelated infections such as Epstein-Barr virus or hepatitis C, which is why the test is used only when hepatitis is already clinically suspected, not as a routine screen.
When hepatitis A virus infects the liver, your immune system responds first with IgM antibodies, which show up around when symptoms begin, then with longer-lasting IgG antibodies that provide lifelong protection. This test isolates the IgM component specifically because its presence signals a recent or ongoing infection rather than old immunity.
Anti-HAV IgM is meant for people who already have a clinical picture suggesting hepatitis A - fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, jaundice - not for checking abnormal liver enzymes in someone without symptoms. Testing broadly increases the odds of a false positive relative to the number of real infections found.
A positive result can persist for over a year after the infection has cleared, and can also cross-react with unrelated conditions such as Epstein-Barr virus infection or hepatitis C. Doctors weigh a positive result against your symptoms, recent travel or exposure history, and liver enzyme levels rather than treating the antibody result alone as proof.
- Eating food or drinking water contaminated with the virus - Close personal or household contact with someone infected - The virus can survive outside the body for months on surfaces
Most adults develop noticeable jaundice, while many infected children show no symptoms at all, though they can still spread the virus.
It usually means you have a recent or current hepatitis A infection, since this antibody typically appears as symptoms start and fades within a few months. Your doctor reads it alongside your symptoms and liver enzyme results rather than as a stand-alone diagnosis.
Yes, unrelated infections such as Epstein-Barr virus or hepatitis C can occasionally cause a false-positive HAV IgM result. This is one reason the test is reserved for people who already show signs of hepatitis, rather than used as a general screen.
IgM signals a recent or current infection and fades over months, while IgG appears later and stays detectable for life, showing past infection or vaccination. Testing both together can help pin down whether an infection is new or old.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
It's usually detectable from around when symptoms begin and can persist for three to six months, though it occasionally stays positive for over a year in some people. Your doctor accounts for this timeline when reading your result.
There's no fasting requirement for this test specifically. Ask your doctor or the centre when you book, especially if liver function tests are being drawn from the same sample.
It's not recommended as a routine check, since testing people without symptoms increases the chance of a confusing false-positive result. Ask your doctor whether a hepatitis A vaccination or immunity check is more appropriate for your situation.