What does anti-HAV reactive mean?

Normal results are negative or nonreactive, meaning that you don’t have the hepatitis A IgM in your blood. If your test is positive or reactive, it may mean: You have an active HAV infection. You have had an HAV infection in the last 6 months.

What does anti-HAV total positive mean?

A positive anti-HAV total result with a negative anti-HAV IgM result indicates probable immunity to hepatitis A from either natural infection or vaccination. However, this assay does not have FDA clearance for confirmation of immunity, whether by natural infection or vaccination.

What is HAV IgG reactive?

IgG antibodies are detectable in the body for life, providing protection against a future hepatitis A virus infection. The IgG anti-HAV test is used to detect past HAV infections and may occasionally be used to determine if an individual has developed immunity from a previous infection or vaccination.

What happens if you test positive for hepatitis A?

These show up after the virus has been in your body for a while. You may have them all your life. They protect you against hepatitis A. If you test positive for them but not for IgM antibodies, it means you had a hepatitis A infection in the past or had vaccinations to protect against it.

Does Hep A stay in your body forever?

Hepatitis A is usually a short-term infection and does not become chronic. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C can also begin as short-term, acute infections, but in some people, the virus remains in the body, resulting in chronic disease and long-term liver problems.

How long is a person with hepatitis A contagious to others?

You are most contagious soon after you are infected. Adults who are otherwise healthy are no longer contagious two weeks after the illness begins. Children and people with weak immune systems may be contagious for up to six months.

What happens if you get hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation and damage. Inflammation is swelling that occurs when tissues of the body become injured or infected. Inflammation can damage organs. Viruses invade normal cells in your body.

How hepatitis A is controlled?

Hepatitis A infection can be prevented by getting vaccine or immune globulin soon after coming into contact with the virus. Persons who have recently been exposed to HAV should get immune globulin or vaccine as soon as possible, but not more than 2 weeks after the last exposure.

What does it mean to have antibody to HAV?

Antibody produced in response to HAV infection (anti-HAV) persists for life and confers protection against reinfection. The presence of IgM antibody to HAV is diagnostic of acute HAV infection. A positive test for total anti-HAV indicates immunity to HAV infection but does not differentiate current from previous HAV infection.

What does total AB reactive hepatitis A mean?

The results showed Hepatitis A Total AB – Reactive (Abn:A) “Normal Range” = N/R, “Status” = Final. What does this mean? This blood result means that you have been exposed to hepatitis A in the past. However, I cannot tell you whether it was in the recent past or distant past without another blood test called “hepatitis A Ig M”.

What does it mean to have a positive HAV test?

A positive test for total anti-HAV indicates immunity to HAV infection but does not differentiate current from previous HAV infection. Although usually not sensitive enough to detect the low level of protective antibody after vaccination, anti-HAV tests also might be positive after hepatitis A vaccination.

What does ab reactive mean on a blood test?

The tests included a Hepatitis panel. The results showed Hepatitis A Total AB – Reactive (Abn:A) “Normal Range” = N/R, “Status” = Final. What does this mean? This blood result means that you have been exposed to hepatitis A in the past.