Anti-HAV IgM (Hepatitis A Antibody IgM)

CPT: 86709

Expected Turnaround Time

24 Hours

Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.

Specimen Requirements

Specimen

Serum, Plasma

Container

SST (Serum), Red Top (Separate Serum), Lithium Heparin (Plasma), EDTA (Plasma), Sodium Heparin (Plasma)

Storage Instructions

Room Temp., Refrigerated (2-8 C)

Stability Requirements

Room temp. 7 days, Refrigerated 7 days

Test Details

Additional Information

Hepatitis A virus (Hep A or HAV) is an RNA virus that causes an acute infectious disease of the liver and is usually spread by the fecal-oral route. It is transmitted by ingestion of contaminated food or water or through direct contact with an infectious person. 

HAV infection produces a self-limited disease that usually does not result in chronic infection or chronic liver disease. Overall occurrence acute liver failure from Hepatitis A is rare (approx. 0.5%). The risk for symptomatic infection is directly related to age, with >80% of adults having symptoms compatible with acute viral hepatitis and the majority of children having either asymptomatic or unrecognized infection. Antibodies produced in response to HAV infection persist for life and confers protection against reinfection. The disease can be prevented by vaccination, and hepatitis A vaccine has been proven effective in controlling outbreaks worldwide.

Although HAV is excreted in the feces towards the end of the incubation period, specific diagnosis is made by the detection of HAV-specific IgM antibodies in the blood. IgM antibody is only present in the blood following an acute hepatitis A infection. It is detectable from one to two weeks after the initial infection and persists for up to 14 weeks. The presence of IgG antibody in the blood means that the acute stage of the illness is past, and the person is immune to further infection. IgG antibody to HAV is also found in the blood following vaccination and tests for immunity to the virus are based on the detection of this antibody.  

Footnotes

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis A. Updated July 1, 2019. Accessed July 12, 2021. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2020/travel-related-infectious-diseases/hepatitis-a 
  2. MedlinePlus: National Library of Medicine. Hepatitis testing. Updated July 6, 2016. Accessed July 12, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/hepatitistesting.html 

Statement on Medical Necessity
All ordered tests should be medically necessary for the diagnosis or detection of disease, illness, impairment, symptom, syndrome, or disorder and the results should be used in the medical management and treatment decisions for the patient. Solaris requires ICD-10 codes with each order for lab testing and both the tests ordered and the diagnosis should be documented in the provider’s medical record for the patient. The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, takes the position that a provider who orders medically unnecessary tests may be subject to civil penalties.

Panels and Profiles
Solaris offers Providers the convenience of ordering test combinations in a group at times with the flexibility to choose appropriate test(s) for individual patients. Providers should only order those tests that he or she believes are medically necessary for each patient, and a lesser inclusive profile or individual tests should be ordered if not all tests in the test combination/profile are medically necessary. All tests offered in a test combination/profile may be ordered separately as individual tests. Solaris encourages clients to contact their Solaris representative if the testing configurations shown do not meet individual needs for any reason, or if some other combination of procedures is needed.

CPT Codes
CPT Codes listed are in accordance with Current Procedural Terminology, a publication of the American Medical Association. CPT codes are the responsibility of the billing party and are listed here for informational purposes. Correct coding may vary from one carrier to another. Solaris may bill specific carriers using codes other than what is shown.

Questions?

For questions or inquiries related to testing please reach out to
customerservice@solarisdx.com or contact us by phone at (844) 550-0308.