Detection of IgM antibody to Hepatitis A. A positive result indicates a current or recent hepatitis A virus infection.

Clinical Significance

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the Hepatovirus A virus (HAV). When the body is infected with HAV, it defends itself by producing two different types of antibodies in sequence: first, IgM, which appears 2 to 4 weeks after infection and is present for 2 to 6 months, then IgG, which appears a few weeks after IgM and is present circulating in the person's blood for the rest of his life.