Hepatitis D is a viral infection caused by the hepatitis D virus (previously called the Delta agent). It causes symptoms only in people who also have hepatitis B infection.
Normal Results
A normal result means no hepatitis antibodies are found in the blood sample. This is called a negative result.
What Abnormal Results Mean
There are different tests for hepatitis A and hepatitis B. A positive test is considered abnormal.
A positive test may mean:
- You currently have a hepatitis This may be a new infection (acute hepatitis), or it may be an infection that you have had for a long time (chronic hepatitis).
- You had a hepatitis infection in the past, but you no longer have the infection and can't spread it to others.
Hepatitis A test results:
- IgM anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies, you have had a recent infection with hepatitis A
- Total (IgM and IgG) antibodies to hepatitis A, you have a previous or past infection, or immunity to hepatitis A
Hepatitis B test results:
- Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg): you have an active hepatitis B infection, either recent or chronic (long-term)
- Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (Anti-HBc), you have a recent or past hepatitis B infection
- Antibody to HBsAg (Anti-HBs): you have a past hepatitis B infection or you have received the hepatitis B vaccine and are unlikely to become infected
- Hepatitis B type e antigen (HBeAg): you have a chronic hepatitis B infection and you are more likely to spread the infection to others through sexual contact or by sharing needles
WHY GET TESTED?
Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is found only in people who carry the hepatitis B virus. HDV may make liver disease worse in people who have either recent (acute) or long-term (chronic) hepatitis B. It can even cause symptoms in people who carry hepatitis B virus but who never had symptoms.
Hepatitis D infects about 15 million people worldwide. It occurs in a small number of people who carry hepatitis B.
Risk factors include:
- Abusing intravenous (IV) or injection drugs
- Being infected while pregnant (the mother can pass the virus to the baby)
- Carrying the hepatitis B virus
- Men having sexual intercourse with other men
- Receiving many blood transfusions
- Detect current or previous hepatitis infection
- Determine how contagious a person with hepatitis is
- Monitor a person who is being treated for hepatitis
The test may be performed for other conditions, such as:
- Chronic persistent hepatitis
- Hepatitis D (delta agent)
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Cryoglobulinemia
- Porphyria cutanea tarda
- Erythema multiforme and nodosum