Hepatitis A Virus Test
How It Is Done
The health professional taking a sample
of your blood will:
- Wrap an elastic band around your upper arm to
stop the flow of blood. This makes the veins below the band larger so it is
easier to put a needle into the vein.
- Clean the needle site with
- Put the needle into the vein. More than one needle stick
may be needed.
- Attach a tube to the needle to fill it with
- Remove the band from your arm when enough blood is
- Put a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle site as
the needle is removed.
- Put pressure on the site and then put on a
How It Feels
The blood sample is taken from a vein in
your arm. An elastic band is wrapped around your upper arm. It may feel tight.
You may feel nothing at all from the needle, or you may feel a quick sting or
There is very little chance of a problem from
having blood sample taken from a vein.
- You may get a small bruise at the site. You
can lower the chance of bruising by keeping pressure on the site for several
- In rare cases, the vein may become swollen after the
blood sample is taken. This problem is called phlebitis. A warm compress can be
used several times a day to treat this.
- Ongoing bleeding can be a
problem for people with bleeding disorders. Aspirin, warfarin (such as Coumadin), and
other blood-thinning medicines can make bleeding more likely. If you have
bleeding or clotting problems, or if you take blood-thinning medicine, tell
your doctor before your blood sample is taken.
virus (HAV) test is a blood test that looks for proteins (antibodies) made by the body in response to the virus
that causes hepatitis A.
Negative results of hepatitis virus
testing mean that no antibodies against the hepatitis virus were found.
Positive results mean that hepatitis A antibodies were found. Results are
usually available in 5 to 7 days.
Hepatitis A test
No hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies are
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies are found.
You may need more tests to find out if you have a present, active infection or
a past, resolved infection.
antibodies are found if you have an active or a recent infection. IgM antibodies usually
show up in the blood as early as 2 weeks after you become infected with HAV,
when symptoms of hepatitis A are present, and last for a few months after
symptoms have gone away.
- Only IgG anti-HAV
antibodies are found if you have had an infection in the past or when you have
had the hepatitis A vaccine. This means that you are protected against the