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.