Jon's Hepatitis Screening Panel

 

Hepatitis A
Anti-HAV IgM antibody	POSITIVE
Hepatitis B
HBVs antigen	Negative
Anti-HBVc antibody	Negative
Hepatitis C
Anti-HCV	Negative

 

Laura's Hepatitis Screening Panel

 

Hepatitis A
Anti-HAV IgM antibody	Negative
Hepatitis B
HBVs antigen	POSITIVE
Anti-HBVc antibody	POSITIVE
Hepatitis C
Anti-HCV	Negative

 

Instructor's Interpretation of Hepatitis Panel

 

To diagnose the specific type of hepatitis, tests are ordered that look for specific hepatitis antigens or antibodies to those antigens. An antigen is a protein marker found on the virus itself. An antibody is a protein made by the body to fight against a specific antigen. IgM antibodies are made first, followed by the longer lasting IgG antibodies. If a patient tests positive for a specific hepatitis antigen, they either have the disease or are a carrier of the disease. If a patient tests positive for a specific antibody, they have mounted an immune response against the hepatitis virus. This is due to an actual exposure to the virus or to immunization.