Hepatitis Panel

What Is a Hepatitis Panel?

A hepatitis panel is a medical test, specifically blood tests, that practitioners use to check if a patient has or had an infection of viral hepatitis and if they are immune to particular types of hepatitis due to vaccination.

Generally, a hepatitis panel tests for antibodies and antigens. More specifically, it includes some of the following tests:

• Hepatitis A Virus Antibody, IgM
• Hepatitis B Surface Antibody
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
• Hepatitis B Core Antibody
• Hepatitis C Antibody

Do note that the hepatitis panel doesn’t usually include tests for Hepatitis D and E, which must be requested separately.

How Does It Work?

Step One. Access and Download the Template

Ensure you can access a digital and printable version of the hepatitis panel test template whenever required. Obtain a copy by following one of these methods:

• Clicking the “Download Template” or “Use Template” button
• Searching “Hepatitis Panel” on Carepatron’s template library’s search bar on the app or website

Step Two. Interview, Assess, and Examine the Patient

Before requesting a hepatitis panel, you must interview, assess, and examine your patient to understand their condition, concerns, and reasons they want to be tested. Knowing it will help you determine if they need a hepatitis panel and identify what to write down in the request form as the reason for testing.

Step Three. Collect the Sample

Remind your patient to bring and show the hepatitis panel template you filled out. It will serve as proof that a referring physician requested the test.

Step Four. Analyze and Interpret the Results

The template also doubles as a document to write down the patient’s results. This will make it easier for you to focus on the results for analysis and interpretation.

Step Five. Securely Store the Template

As soon as the consultation is over, the referring physician must store the template - whether it’s used as a request form and/or a document for notes - at a secure physical location. Store digital documents on Carepatron, a HIPAA-compliant EHR, to limit access only to relevant parties.

When Would You Use This Test?

Healthcare providers like general practitioners, their assistants, and nurses may use a hepatitis panel for the following:

Detection and Diagnosis

If the patient shows symptoms of hepatitis, abnormal results in a liver panel, has been exposed to someone who has viral hepatitis, or is at risk of having/developing hepatitis due to a condition or treatment. 

General Good Health Maintainance

According to the CDC, in 2023, it is advised that adults undergo hepatitis B screening for general health maintenance. 

What do the Results Mean?

Like all tests, context must be considered when analyzing and interpreting results. However, if you need a general overview of the interpretation of hepatitis panel results, we’ve provided them below. 

Hepatitis A Panel Results and Interpretation

• Hepatitis A Ab total is positive, and Hepatitis A IgM is unavailable/negative: Patient is immune from previous infection or successfully vaccinated.  
• Hepatitis A Ab total and Hepatitis A IgM are negative: The patient is susceptible due to never being vaccinated or the body cannot maintain antibodies from vaccination. 
• Hepatitis IgM is negative, and Hepatitis A Ab total is positive/unavailable: Patient has acute hepatitis A infection.

Hepatitis B Panel Results and Interpretation

• Hepatitis B surface antigen, total antibody to Hepatitis B core antigen, and IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen are positive, while Hepatitis B surface antibody is negative: Patient has an acute Hepatitis B infection. 
• Hepatitis B surface antigen and total antibody to hepatitis B core antigen are positive while IgM antibody to hepatitis b core antigen and Hepatitis B surface antibody are negative: Patient has chronic Hepatitis B infection.
• Hepatitis B surface antigen is negative, while total antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen are positive and hepatitis B surface antibodies are positive: The patient had a resolved infection.
• Hepatitis B surface antigen and total antibody to hepatitis B core antigen are negative while Hepatitis B surface antibody is positive: Patient is immune to Hepatitis B infection due to vaccination. 

Hepatitis C Panel Results and Interpretations

• Reactive HCV Antibody: The patient may have an infection, had an infection that’s resolved, or is falsely positive. 
• Nonreactive HCV Antibody: The patient doesn’t have an HCV antibody, so they don’t have an infection. 

Reference

• Hepatitis panel. (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/hepatitis-panel/

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