Hepatitis markers

To assert hepatitis A, we can find the HAV IgM anti marker several weeks after the contagion.

For hepatitis B:

- From 4 to 12 weeks after the contagion:
HBs antigen or antigen australia will be present. Is the antigen on the surface of the virus;

- 6 to 15 weeks after the contagion:
HBeAg is found in serum. It is a surface antigen which corresponds to a complete virus;

- Another antigen, HBc antigen, exists within the capsid of the virus and does not found in serum. Appears in the recovery period as anti HBc antibody in serum.

Each antigen causes the appearance of a specific antibody to a greater or lesser time period away from contagion.

In summary:

- HBsAg appears at the beginning of infection and persists in the period of state and disappears convalescence;

- HBeAg appears later and disappears earlier than HBsAg;

- Anti HBs appears a few months after the contagion and may persist for several years;

- Anti HBc appears 6 weeks after contagion and may persist for years.

Ag (antigen) HBsAg + anti-HBs anti-HBc + = acute or chronic infection during

HBsAg, anti-HBc anti-HBs + + = history of hepatitis B: about protected

HBsAg, anti-HBs + anti-HBc = after immunization protected person, after natural contact: about vaccinating

HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc + = a recent infection before the appearance of anti-HBs after previous infection or disappearance of anti-HBs.

The presence of HBsAg carrier excludes blood donation.

healing of acute hepatitis B means:
- Normalization of transaminases,
- The appearance of HBc antibody
- The disappearance of HBsAg.

The transition to chronicity characterized by:
- The persistence of elevated transaminases,
- The presence of HBsAg and HBeAg.

For hepatitis C, HCV marker research confirms the diagnosis. Chronicity is accompanied by anti-HCV and elevated transaminases (sometimes normal though). The virus can be asserted by sophisticated laboratory techniques (PCR HCV).