Abstract
Recent advances have made available to the clinician multiple serologic tests for the diagnosis and evaluation of acute and chronic viral hepatitis. While the multiplicity of tests available can be confusing, selective use of these serologic tests tailored to the clinical situation can be of great value in identifying the agent causing the liver disease. I present a clinically oriented discussion of the serologic tests available to diagnose viral hepatitis.
MeSH terms
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Acute Disease
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Antigens, Viral / analysis
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Chronic Disease
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DNA, Viral / analysis
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Diagnosis, Differential
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Genome, Viral
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Hepacivirus / genetics
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Hepatitis A Antibodies
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Hepatitis Antibodies / analysis
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Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / analysis
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Hepatitis C Antibodies
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Hepatitis delta Antigens
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Hepatitis, Viral, Human / diagnosis*
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Hepatitis, Viral, Human / microbiology
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Humans
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Immunoglobulin M / analysis
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Serologic Tests / methods
Substances
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Antigens, Viral
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DNA, Viral
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Hepatitis A Antibodies
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Hepatitis Antibodies
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Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
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Hepatitis C Antibodies
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Hepatitis delta Antigens
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Immunoglobulin M