This ELISA is a direct and quantitative enzyme immunoassay for the detection of human antibody (specifically for IgG subtype) against hepatitis A virus in human specimen.

Hepatitis A, (formerly known as infectious hepatitis), is an acute infectious disease of the liver caused by Hepatitis A virus,  which is most commonly transmitted by the fecal-oral route via contaminated food or drinking water. Every year, approximately 10 million people worldwide are infected with the virus. The time between infection and the appearance of the symptoms, (the incubation period), is between two and six weeks and the average incubation period is 28 days. Hepatitis A infection causes no clinical signs and symptoms in over 90% of these children and since the infection confers lifelong immunity, the disease is of no special significance to the indigenous population. Hepatitis A does not have a chronic stage and does not cause permanent liver damage. Following infection, the immune system makes antibodies against the hepatitis A virus that confer immunity against future infection. The disease can be prevented by vaccination and hepatitis A vaccine has been proven effective in controlling outbreaks worldwide.

The Hepatitis virus (HAV) is a picornavirus; it is non-enveloped and contains a single-stranded 27 nm RNA packaged in a protein shell. There is only one type of the virus.

Although the virus is excreted in the feces towards the end of the incubation period, specific diagnosis is made by the detection of Hepatitis A virus specific IgM antibodies in the blood.  IgM antibody is 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 years. 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.   During the acute stage of the infection the liver enzyme alanine transferase (ALT) is present in the blood at levels much higher than is normal. The enzyme comes from the liver cells that have been damaged by the virus.

For research use only in Europe.