Hepatitis E Virus Antibodies (Sendout)

Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)-Screening Procedure

Confirmatory IgM, if performed: Line Immunoassay (LIA)

Cautions:

IgG: A negative test result does not exclude the presence of recent hepatitis E infection (<2 month duration), especially in immunocompromised patients. Repeat testing for anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) IgM and anti-HEV IgG in 1 to 2 months is necessary for diagnosis of recent hepatitis E.

IgM: Despite having a high specificity rate, the positive predictive value of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) IgM antibody screening test may be low (ie, relatively high frequency of false-positive test results) due to low prevalence of acute hepatitis E in the patient population being screened. HEV IgM antibody confirmatory test is helpful and necessary to determine the true infection status of patients with reactive HEV IgM antibody screening test results.

A negative test result does not exclude the presence of recent hepatitis E infection, especially in immunocompromised patients. Repeat testing of serum for anti-HEV IgM in 2 to 4 weeks may be necessary for diagnosis of acute in such patients.

IgG, IgM: Performance characteristics of this assay have not been established for serum specimens that are heat inactivated, icteric, lipemic, hemolyzed, or contain particulate matter.

Outside Laboratories: Centrifuge sample and transfer serum to a separate plastic vial. Freeze serum at -20°C while awaiting shipment. Transport samples on dry ice.

Stability: Frozen (preferred): Indefinitely; Refrigerated: 24 hours; Ambient: Unacceptable.

Reject Due To: Gross hemolysis, gross lipemia, gross icterus.

Centrifuge sample and transfer serum to a separate aliquot. Freeze sample at -20° C.

Sendouts:

• Order Mayo Tests: HEVG and HEVM.
• Interfaced: Yes.

Stability: Frozen (preferred): Indefinitely; Refrigerated: 24 hours; Ambient: Unacceptable.

Reject Due To: Gross hemolysis, gross lipemia, gross icterus.