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Test Code HAVTA Hepatitis A Virus Total Antibodies, Serum


Necessary Information


Date of collection is required.



Specimen Required


Patient Preparation: For 24 hours before specimen collection, patient should not take multivitamins or dietary supplements (eg. hair, skin, and nail supplements) containing biotin (Vitamin B7).

Collection Container/Tube: Serum gel (red-top tubes are not acceptable)

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.6 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Centrifuge blood collection tube per manufacturer's instructions (eg, centrifuge and aliquot within 2 hours of collection for BD Vacutainer tubes).

2. Aliquot serum into plastic vial.


Secondary ID

620407

Useful For

Detection of recent or previous exposure or immunity to hepatitis A.

 

This test should not be used as a screening or confirmatory test for blood or solid or soft tissue donor specimens.

Special Instructions

Method Name

Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay (ECLIA)

Reporting Name

Hepatitis A Virus Total Ab, S

Specimen Type

Serum SST

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.6 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum SST Frozen (preferred) 90 days
  Refrigerated  6 days
  Ambient  72 hours

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia Reject
Gross icterus Reject

Clinical Information

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is endemic throughout the world, occurring most commonly, however, 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. Outbreaks frequently occur in overcrowded situations and in high-density institutions and centers, such as prisons and health care or day care 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.

 

In most cases, HAV-specific antibodies (anti-HAV) are detectable by the time that symptoms occur, usually 15 to 45 days after exposure. Initial antibodies consist almost entirely of the IgM subclass. Anti-HAV IgM usually falls to an undetectable level by 6 months after HAV infection. Anti-HAV IgG levels rise quickly once the virus is cleared and may persist for many years. Currently, commercial diagnostic assays are available for detecting anti-HAV IgM alone (HAIGM / Hepatitis A IgM Antibody, Serum) or anti-HAV total (IgM and IgG) but not anti-HAV IgG alone.

Reference Values

Unvaccinated: Negative

Vaccinated: Positive

Interpretation

This assay detects the presence of hepatitis A virus (HAV)-specific total antibodies (both anti-HAV IgG and anti-HAV IgM combined). A positive result indicates that the patient had hepatitis A either recently or in the past or immunity to hepatitis A from vaccination. A reactive (positive) result by the Elecsys Anti-HAV II assay does not differentiate between acute or past HAV infection or immunity from vaccination, and it does not necessarily rule out other hepatitis infections.

 

If clinically indicated, specific testing for anti-HAV IgM is necessary to confirm the presence of acute or recent hepatitis A. A positive result for anti-HAV total with a negative anti-HAV IgM result indicates immunity to hepatitis A from either past HAV infection or vaccination against HAV.

 

A negative result indicates the absence of recent or past hepatitis A or a lack of immunity to HAV infection. A non-reactive (negative) test result does not exclude the possibility of early acute infection with HAV.

Method Description

The Elecsys Anti-HAV (hepatitis A virus) II assay is performed using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay on the automated cobas e 801 immunochemistry analyzer. Hepatitis A virus (HAV)-specific antibodies in the patient’s serum binds with added HAV antigen in the reaction. After addition of biotinylated monoclonal anti-HAV and streptavidin-coated microparticles, patient’s anti-HAV form a sandwich complex with the HAV antigen and the ruthenium-labeled anti-HAV antibody which becomes bound to the solid phase via interaction of biotin and streptavidin. The reaction mixture is then aspirated into the measuring cell where the microparticles are magnetically captured onto the surface of the electrode, and unbound substances are washed away. Voltage is applied to the electrode which induces chemiluminescent emissions that are measured by a photomultiplier. Test result is determined automatically with the assay-specific software in comparing the electrochemiluminescence signal generated in the patient’s sample to the signal cutoff index value set from reagent lot-specific assay calibration.(Package insert: Elecsys Anti-HAV II. Roche Diagnostics; v3.0, 11/2022)

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Saturday

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

86708

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
HAVTA Hepatitis A Virus Total Ab, S 13951-9

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
HAVT Hepatitis A Virus Total Ab, S 13951-9

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send 1 of the following forms with the specimen:

Gastroenterology and Hepatology Test Request (T728)

Infectious Disease Serology Test Request (T916)