Test Information

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is endemic throughout the world, however, occurring most commonly in areas of poor hygiene and low socioeconomic conditions. The virus is transmitted primarily by the fecal-oral route, and it is spread by close person-to-person contact and by food- and water-borne epidemics. Viral spread by parenteral routes (e.g., exposure to blood) is possible but rare, because infected individuals are viremic for a short period of time (usually <3 weeks). There is little or no evidence of transplacental transmission from mother to fetus or transmission to newborn during delivery.

Limitations

• The results determined by different assays from different manufacturers can vary due to differences in assay specificities and cannot be used interchangeably.
• A nonreactive test result does not exclude the possibility of exposure to hepatitis A virus.
• HAV Total assay does not distinguish among different classes of antibodies. The assay cannot be used to determine if a reactive sample is due to an acute infection or is the result of a previous infection.
• Assay performance characteristics have not been evaluated for immunocompromised, immunosuppressed, cord blood and neonatal patients.
• A reactive or positive result does not exclude co-infection by another hepatitis virus.