Hepatitis A virus is best diagnosed by: (A) IgM antibodies in serum, (B) Isolation from stool, (C) Culture from blood, (D) Isolation from bile
Answer is A. Ans. is 'a' i.e., IgM antibodies in serum Lab diagnosis of HAV . "Detection of IgM - specific anti-HAV in the blood of an acutely infected patient confirms the diagnosis of hepatitis A" . IgM appears in acute phase, peaking about 2 weeks after elevation of liver enzymes and becomes undetectable within 3-6 months. . ELISA is the method of choice for measuring antibodies. Diagnosis can also be established by detection of virus in the stool from about 2 weeks prior to the onset of jaundice up to 2 weeks after. "But these tests for detection of HAV, are not widely available or useful in practice".