How Is Hepatitis A Diagnosed?
Hepatitis A is diagnosed using a simple blood test. The blood test checks for the presence of the virus in the blood or feces before a person develops symptoms. The disease can also be diagnosed by looking for hepatitis A antibodies. The blood of a healthy individual doesn’t contain Hepatitis A antibodies. If the antibodies are detected, this is a sure sign of an infection. The antibodies can be detected 1 to 2 weeks after infection and are capable of remaining present in the blood for two weeks.
In severe cases, hepatitis A can be diagnosed by checking for the presence of a liver enzyme produced and released into the bloodstream due to liver damage. Immunity can be measured by comparing the level of hepatitis A antibodies against that of enzymes in the blood.
