A member asked:

Does a hepatitis a total antibody test look for igm antibodies or igg antibodies? or does it look for both? does it differentiate between the two on the results?

4 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Dr. Stuart Hickerson answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Both: IgM comes first in 7 days after onset and IgG comes on 3 to 4 weeks after onset.

Answered 1/15/2015

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Dr. Julie Abbott answered

Specializes in Preventive Medicine

Typically, yes: The use of the word "total" indicates that both IgM and IgG HAV antibodies will be tested for. Anti-HAV IgM (hepatitis A IgM antibody) usually falls to an undetectable level by 6 months after HAV infection. Anti-HAV IgG levels rise quickly once the virus is cleared and may persist for many years. Both results are reported and help differentiate between recent and past/resolved hepatitis A.

Answered 1/14/2015

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