Medical Diagnosis Exams

The hepatitis A virus is an RNA‑containing virus that lacks an envelope. It belongs to the family of picornaviruses. Hepatitis A is the most common form of acute viral hepatitis. It is transmitted by the fecal‑oral route.

The disease has not been known to take a chronic course, nor does the virus persist in the organism. Total anti‑HAV is positive at the onset of a hepatitis A infection (IgM). After natural infection, anti‑HAV IgG antibodies can usually be detected lifelong and provide protection against the disease if the organism is reinfected.

An acute hepatitis A infection can be assumed if anti‑HAV IgM antibodies are detected. Anti‑HAV IgM antibodies can always be detected at the onset of the disease and usually disappear 3 to 4 months later.