26214 Hepatitis D Virus Total Antibodies, Serum (AHDV)

​​AHDV
Anti-HDV
Anti-HDV total
Delta hepatitis
HDV
HDV total antibodies
Hepatitis D
Hepatitis D virus
Hepatitis D virus antibodies
Hepatitis D total antibodies
Hepatitis delta total antibodies

Hepatitis D Virus Total Ab, S (AHDV)

Detection of hepatitis D virus (HDV)-specific total antibodies (combined IgG and IgM) in human serum

Diagnosis of concurrent HDV infection in patients with acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (acute coinfection), chronic HBV infection (chronic coinfection), or acute exacerbation of known chronic HBV infection (HDV superinfection)

​1. Centrifuge blood collection tube per collection tube manufacturer's instructions.

2. Aliquot serum into plastic vial.

Negative results may not rule-out hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection during the early phase of infection or in immunocompromised patients who have delayed or inadequate immune response.

False-positive results may be due to cross-reactive antibodies from other viral infection or underlying illnesses. Positive result should be correlated with the patient's clinical history, physical examination findings, and risk factors for HDV infection.

Performance characteristics have not been established for the following specimen characteristics:

-Grossly icteric (total bilirubin level of >20 mg/dL)

-Grossly lipemic (triolein level of >3000 mg/dL)

-Grossly hemolyzed (hemoglobin level of >500 mg/dL)

-Containing particulate matter

-Cadaveric specimens 

Hepatitis D virus (HDV), also known as delta hepatitis virus, is a defective RNA virus comprised of a delta antigen and a hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) as the core and protein coat of the virus, respectively. This virus cannot replicate effectively by itself, and it requires the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) to initiate and maintain its replication in the infected liver cells.

Infection with HDV occurs either as an acute coinfection with HBV or an acute superinfection of chronic HBV. Acute HBV-HDV coinfection usually follows a self-limited clinical course with spontaneous resolution, but may have a fulminant clinical presentation. HDV superinfection in chronic HBV or in HBV carrier state typically manifests as an acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B, with tendency to result in chronic HBV-HDV coinfection and early cirrhosis or liver failure. Chronic HDV infection is found in 1% of all chronically HBV-infected individuals in the United States.

Diagnosis of HDV can be established by detecting HDV antigen, HDV-specific IgM, or HDV-specific total antibodies (combined IgM and IgG) in the sera of infected patients with clinically evident acute or chronic hepatitis B. Anti-HDV IgM typically appears in serum at 2 to 3 weeks after onset of symptoms and disappears by 2 months after acute HDV infection, but it may persist up to 9 months in HDV superinfection. HDV IgG and HDV total antibodies persist in serum after resolution of acute HDV infection and in chronic coinfection.

​This assay detects the presence of hepatitis D virus (HDV)-specific total (combined IgG and IgM) antibodies in serum.

Negative results indicate the absence of HDV infection and no past exposure to HDV.

Equivocal results indicate borderline level of anti-HDV total antibodies. Repeat testing in 1 to 2 weeks is recommended to determine the definitive HDV infection status.

Positive results usually indicate 1 of the following conditions: 1) simultaneous acute or chronic coinfection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HDV, 2) acute HDV infection in patients with known chronic HBV infection (ie, HDV superinfection), or 3) resolved HDV infection.