Hepatitis A and E test: what it means

Blood tests can look for antibodies or other markers linked with hepatitis A or hepatitis E. A result may suggest a recent infection, earlier exposure, or immunity, depending on the marker and the test method. Hepatitis A and E are not interchangeable diagnoses. Recent travel, food or water exposure, contact with an infected person, medicines, and other liver conditions can affect how a clinician reads the result.

Nausea, loss of appetite, feeling generally unwell, and dark urine can occur with viral hepatitis, but none of these symptoms identifies the virus on its own.

Share when symptoms began, where you have travelled, possible food or water exposures, household contacts, medicines, and pregnancy status. Take the complete report to your appointment. A clinician may pair the viral tests with a liver function test to assess inflammation and decide whether more testing or monitoring is needed. Until advised otherwise, use careful hand hygiene and avoid preparing food for others if you are unwell.

Contact a clinician promptly for yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, ongoing vomiting, increasing abdominal pain, or difficulty drinking. Seek urgent care for confusion, fainting, severe drowsiness, bleeding, or dehydration. Anyone who is pregnant or has existing liver disease should seek advice early after symptoms or a concerning exposure.

Ask which hepatitis A or E marker was measured, whether the result suggests recent infection or immunity, and whether additional testing is needed. Ask how to protect household contacts, when to return for liver tests, and whether any medicine should be paused.