Sunday, October 18, 2009

SEROLOGIC TESTING...VIRAL HEPATITIS

Interpreting the serologic tests are always challenging, especially
during the stress of exam taking...but also at the practice setting.

We'll show you an easy method of remembering and diagnosing both
acute and chronic Viral Hepatitis.....JUST MEMORIZE ALL THE CLUES!!!


CLUE No.1 As on the previous posting, remember:

Any positive IgM test equals CURRENT illness. HINT: "M" "M"omentary
Any positive IgG test equals RESOLVED illness. HINT: "G" "G"one

Just knowing this simple clue.....you've won half the battle!!!

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CLUE No.2 Always divide illess into ACUTE and CHRONIC.


CLUE No.3 ALL Viral Hepatitis has an ACUTE FORM:
HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV and HEV. (a,b,c,d,e) can it be more simple.


CLUE No 4. ONLY THREE types of Hepatitis has CHRONIC FORM:
HBV, HCV and HDV.


By now, you had won three quarters of the battle....the rest is easy.
Let's put it all together by REMEMBERING ALL THE ABOVE INFORMATION.

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ACUTE HEPATITIS SEROLOLGY (IgM)


HEPATITIS A (HAV)........+IgM Anti-HAV

HEPATITIS B (HBV)........+IgM Anti-HBc
This is the BEST and MOST SENSITIVE MARKER!!!!

HINT: Acute HBV infection causes
elevation of ALL elements, thus + results:

"c"-Core: +IgM Anti-HBc (as above).
"e"-Envelope: +HBeAg
"s"-Surface: +HBsAg

DON'T FORGET:

On the exam and in clinical practice, the
BEST TEST is always +IgM Anti-HBc !!!!!


HEPATITIS C (HCV).......+HCV RNA (by PCR)...The BEST TEST!!!
+Anti-HCV

HEPATITIS D (HDV)........+Anti-HDV (Remember, there must be a co-
-existing HBV infection).


HEPATITIS E (HEV).......+ IgM Anti-HEV

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CHRONIC HEPATITIS SEROLOGY (IgG)


HEPATITIS B (HBV)......+IgG Anti-HBc

HEPATITIS C (HCV).......+Anti HCV
+HVC-RNA

HEPATITIS D (HDV)......+IgG Anti-HDV (This infection can never outlast HBV)


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RECOVERED/RESOLVED PHASES OF HEPATITIS (IgG)


HEPATITIS A (HAV).......+IgG Anti-HAV (Confers Immunity/Prior Infection)

HEPATITIS B (HBV)........+ Anti-HBs (Confers Immunity/Prior Infection)

HEPATITIS C (HCV)........-Anti-HCV-RNA (by PCR) (Resolved Viral Load)
+Anti-HCV (Remains + for life)

HEPATITIS D (HDV)........+IgG Anti-HDV

HEPATITIS E (HEV)........+IgG Anti-HEV


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Thanks for your time and attention.....hope it was simple, fun and not hard at all!!!

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