Hematology

Question 1

What does it mean if the ALT is 1.5 times above the normal limit?

Answer 1

acute hepatitis infection

Question 2

What tests would you order to rule out an acute infection of Hep A/HepB/ HepC?

Answer 2

Hep A = order Anti-HAV-IgM
Hep B= HBsAg
Hep C= anti HCV

If HBsAG comes back positive then you would order:
Anti-Hbs (antibodies for hepatitis B) +
IgM-anti-Hbc -

during an acute infection IgM WILL ALWAYS be positive
the antibodies will be negative

Hep C will need further investigations if its positive, its tricky to diffferentiate acute from chronic