Laboratory Lab results are too important to go anywhere else.

Hepatitis E IgM Antibody with Reflex to Confirmation

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB10136, Beaker: XHPEM, Mayo: HEVM

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Gold-top SST tube.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells within two hours of collection. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below).

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 1.0 mL serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Grossly hemolyzed specimens.
• Grossly lipemic specimens.
• Grossly icteric specimens.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells within two hours of collection. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Transport: 1.0 mL serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Unacceptable
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 24 hours
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Indefinitely

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester, MN.

Performed

Tuesday, Thursday.
Results available in 1-7 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

Qualitative Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).

Interpretation

Both IgM and IgG antibody to HEV (anti-HEV) are elicited following HEV infection. The titer of IgM anti-HEV declines rapidly during early convalescence. IgG anti-HEV persists and appears to provide at least short-term protection against disease.

Clinical Utility

This test is used for the in vitro detection of IgM antibodies to hepatitis E virus in human serum.

Clinical Disease

The epidemiology and clinical course of viral hepatitis E are similar to that of hepatitis A. There is no evidence of a chronic form. The case fatality rate is similar to that of hepatitis A, except in pregnant women where the rate may reach 20% during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Epidemiology

Epidemics consistent with a hepatitis E virus etiology have been identified in India, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Pakistan, the USSR, Algeria, Libya, Somalia, Mexico and China. Often these have occurred as waterborne epidemics, but sporadic cases and epidemics not clearly related to water have been reported. The attack rate is highest in young adults, often with a male predominance. Cases are uncommon in children and the elderly (1).

Incubation Period

Fifteen to 64 days; mean incubation period has varied from 26 to 42 days in different epidemics (1).

Transmission

Contaminated water and probably from person to person by the fecal-oral route (1).

Reference

1. Benenson, Abram. Control of Communicable Diseases in Man, 15th edition, American Public Health Association, Washington, DC. 1990.

CPT Codes

86790

Contacts

Last Updated

10/30/2024