Test Code HAABM Hepatitis A Virus IgM Antibody

Important Note

This test may be affected by biotin interference. Patients on high dose biotin (5mg/day or more) should not have samples drawn until at least 24 hours after the last biotin administration.

Infectious

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Serum

Preferred Specimen: Red Top

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions:

Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately.

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions:

Samples should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
Centrifuge specimens at >2500 x g for 10 minutes at room temperature.
Aliquot sample into plastic transport tube containing a minimum of 0.2 mL of specimen.
Samples must be sent room temperature at 15-25^oC.

Rejection Criteria

Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits.
Specimens that are clotted or grossly hemolyzed.
Specimens that were transported unspun/whole blood and draw time is greater than 6 hours

Reference Values

This is a qualitative test. The absence of antibody to hepatitis A virus is considered normal. However, a negative test result does not exclude the possibility of exposure to HAV and/or early acute hepatitis A viral infection.

Test	Age	Sex	Reference Range	Interpretation
HAABM	All	All	<0.90 COI	Non-Reactive
HAABM	All	All	≥0.90<1.10 COI	Borderline
HAABM	All	All	≥1.10 COI	Reactive

Critical Values

Analyte	Unit	Low	High	Age
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

CPT Codes

86709

LOINC Codes

13950-1

Volume

Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL

Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature	Stability
Room Temperature	7 days
Refrigerated	14 days
Frozen	3 months

Note: May be frozen up to 5 times.

Collection Instructions

Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures.

Test Components

Hepatitis A Virus IgM Antibody

Clinical Indications

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is endemic throughout the world, occurring most commonly in areas of poor hygiene and low socioeconomic conditions. The virus is transmitted primarily by the fecal-oral route and spread by close person-to-person contact and by food and waterborne epidemics. Outbreaks frequently occur in overcrowded situations and high-density institutions and centers, such as prisons and healthcare or daycare centers. Viral spread by parenteral routes (eg, 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.

Serological diagnosis of acute viral hepatitis A depends on the detection of specific anti-HAV IgM. Its presence in the patient's serum indicates a recent exposure to HAV. HAV-specific IgM antibody level becomes detectable in the blood by 4 weeks after infection, persisting at elevated levels for about 2 months before declining to undetectable levels by 6 months. They rarely persist beyond 12 months after infection.

Methodology

Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) (Roche Diagnostics)

Additional Information

This assay detects the presence of hepatitis A virus (HAV)-specific IgM antibody in serum.

Negative results indicate either inadequate or delayed anti-HAV IgM response after known exposure to HAV or absence of acute or recent hepatitis A.

Equivocal results may be seen in early acute hepatitis A associated with rising anti-HAV IgM levels or recent hepatitis A infection associated with declining anti-HAV IgM levels. Retesting for both anti-HAV IgM (HAIGM / Hepatitis A Virus IgM Antibody, Serum) and anti-HAV Total (HAVTA / Hepatitis A Virus Total Antibodies, Serum) in 2 to 4 weeks is recommended to determine the definitive HAV infection status.

Positive results indicate acute or recent (<6 months) hepatitis A infection. As required by laws in almost all states, positive anti-HAV IgM test results must be urgently reported to state health departments for epidemiologic investigations of possible outbreak transmission.

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory.

STAT Turnaround Time: Not available as STAT test

Routine Turnaround Time: up to 4 hours

Testing Schedule: 24/7

Synonyms/Keyword Search

HAABM

Anti-HAV IgM