Diagnosis of acute hepatitis E infection utilizing enzyme immunoassay

Abstract

Acute hepatitis E infection was diagnosed in a Pakistani immigrant admitted to the University of Illinois Hospital. Utilizing enzyme immunoassay (EIA) tests, specific IgG and IgM class antibodies to three different epitopes of hepatitis E virus (HEV) were detected 12 weeks after the onset of illness and in the early convalescent stage. Sixteen months after the onset of hepatitis, IgM anti-HEV was no longer detectable. Low levels of IgG class anti-HEV antibodies continued to be detected. We demonstrate the utility of the EIA HEV assay to diagnose prospectively acute HEV infection.

Clinical Significance of Anti-HEV IgA in Diagnosis of Acute Genotype 4 Hepatitis E Virus Infection Negative for Anti-HEV IgM

“…Clinical diagnosis of AHE is mainly done by a blood test that detects specific antibodies to HEV [8]. The immunoglobulin M (IgM) class of antibody against HEV (Anti-HEV IgM) is a diagnostic for recent or ongoing HEV infection for its short duration [9].…”