Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) Total Antibodies, Serum

Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) is a small defective virus that replicates effectively only in the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Infection is acquired parenterally, and probably, via close personal contact in endemic areas. Chronic HDV infection often results in severe liver disease that progresses to cirrhosis in up to 70% of patients. Prognosis may be worse in those who are co-infected with HBV compared to those where HDV is a superadded infection in chronic HBV carriers. All patients with HDV have HBsAg in serum but most lack markers of active HBV replication such as HBV DNA and hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg).

The diagnosis of HDV infection is suspected when finding anti- HDV antibodies in patients who are HBsAg positive. Confirmation of active HDV infection is made by the detection of viral RNA or HDV antigen in serum or liver tissue respectively.

1 ml Serum Room Temperature

Negative: < 1.0 Index Positive: > 1.0 Index