Assay for Prior or Ongoing Hepatitis A

A new assay for hepatitis A is used to aid laboratory diagnosis of previous or ongoing hepatitis A viral infection.

The assay, HAVAB 2.0, is used on the AxSYM automated immunoassay instrument of Abbott Laboratories (Abbott Park, IL, USA). Although primarily used to determine previous exposure to hepatitis, the test can also be used to identify hepatitis A virus (HAV)-susceptible individuals for vaccination. Abbott will be introducing additional AxSYM tests for other types of hepatitis throughout 2004 and continuing into 2005.

In July 2004, Abbott introduced the HAVAB-M 2.0 assay, which aids the diagnosis of an acute or recent hepatitis A viral infection by detecting the IgM antibody to hepatitis A. In most cases, IgM antibody response usually peaks within the first month of illness and persists throughout the first three to six months of infection.

"As a leader in viral hepatitis testing, Abbott's goal is to provide small, medium, and large laboratories with a variety of hepatitis testing options,” said Michael J. Collins, vice president, U.S. Diagnostic Commercial Operations, Abbott Laboratories. "Within a few months, this panel will include the addition of the AxSYM anti-HCV (hepatitis C virus) assay.”




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