Description
Hepatitis B virus is a circular, partially double-stranded DNA virus of the Hepadnaviridae family which is unrelated to the viruses causing Hepatitis A or Hepatitis C. Hepatitis B virus is transmitted by exposure to infected bodily fluids during sexual activity, sharing intravenous drug injection equipment, or exposure to infected maternal blood at birth. Hepatitis B Surface Antigen with Reflex Confirmation test indicates chronic infection and is useful in the differential diagnosis of hepatitis.
Serologic markers specific for the Hepatitis B virus are used to diagnose Hepatitis B virus infection. The markers identify the stage of the infection (past, present or chronic) and those who are at highest risk for complications. The presence of hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) indicates either recovery and immunity in a previously infected person, or successful immunization by vaccination. Surface antigen usually appears in the serum after an incubation period of 1 to 6 months following exposure to Hepatitis B virus and peaks shortly after onset of symptoms. It typically disappears within 1 to 3 months. Persistence of Hepatitis B surface antigen for greater than 6 months is a prognostic indicator of chronic Hepatitis B infection.
Hepatitis A is a highly infectious liver disease that affects the function of the liver. The virus is spread through stool from an infected person. It is considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD) because it can be contracted during oral-anal sexual contact. However, it can also be contracted during close contact with an infected individual or contaminated food or drink. As the viral material can be found in the blood, it may also be transmitted through blood. Hepatitis A IgM Antibody test is used to detect the presence of IgM antibodies for the hepatitis A virus.
This test helps diagnose acute hepatitis A and is also used for differential diagnosis of hepatitis. The hepatitis A virus is able to survive outside the body for months. It averages a 28-day incubation period between infection and symptoms. Infection can be prevented if you have immunity through the hepatitis A vaccine or previous infection. IgM antibodies can be detected as soon as 2 weeks post exposure. This test is highly accurate at 3-6 weeks post exposure and is 99% conclusive after 12 weeks. So IgM antibodies to Hepatitis A suggest a current, acute or recent Hepatitis A infection.
Hepatitis C is a virus that attacks the human liver. It causes damage and, over time, destroys the liver by killing off healthy cells. The virus leaves tough scar tissue behind which keeps the liver from working properly. Hepatitis C Antibody with Reflex to HCV, RNA, Quantitative, Real-Time PCR - Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a major cause of hepatitis. The clinical symptoms of an HCV infection are variable. Infection with HCV results in a chronic infection in 50 to 80% of cases.
The "window" between HCV acquisition and seroreactivity is highly variable; up to six months. Immune system makes special proteins when harmful foreign microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses enter your body. These special proteins are called antibodies. The human body makes millions of different antibodies. Each one is tailored to fight a particular microorganism you’ve been exposed to. The antibodies try to neutralize or destroy the foreign invader before it can do harm. Hepatitis C antibodies are made by white blood cells and attack only the hepatitis C virus. They bind to the virus and set it up for attack by other parts of the immune system. The hepatitis C antibody test is a blood test that looks for hepatitis C antibodies in the bloodstream.
A positive result usually means that you’ve been exposed to the hepatitis C virus. A positive result can occasionally be a false positive. A negative result means that no antibodies have been detected in your bloodstream. This could indicate that there is no infection or you were exposed so recently that not enough antibodies have built up yet to be detectable. Or it could be a false negative.
HIV-1/2 Antigen and Antibodies, Fourth Generation, with Reflexes - This test is used to help diagnose HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection, including acute infection, and to differentiate HIV-1 from HIV-2. It is consistent with the HIV diagnostic algorithm proposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can be used in adults, including pregnant women, and in children at least 2 years old.
This test allows detection of acute HIV-1 infection based on the presence of p24 antigen, before seroconversion occurs, allowing for earlier diagnosis than with previous tests. It can also detect HIV-1 and HIV-2 post-seroconversion, based on antibodies. If the HIV-1/HIV-2 antigen/antibody test is positive, an antibody-based HIV-1/HIV-2 test is done (at additional charge) to confirm infection and identify whether it is caused by HIV-1 or HIV-2. However, the HIV-1/HIV-2 differentiation test will be negative during acute infection (prior to development of specific antibodies). If the antibody-based HIV-1/HIV-2 test is negative, the blood specimen will be reflex-tested for the presence of HIV-1 RNA (at additional charge) to identify patients with acute HIV-1 infection.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends HIV screening for all pregnant women, and for individuals between 15 and 65 years of age who live in regions with an HIV prevalence of 0.1% [2]. In addition, antigen/antibody-based HIV testing is recommended for high-risk individuals who want to begin pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) therapy, because HIV-positive patients who start PrEP without knowing their HIV status face an elevated risk of antiretroviral resistance.
Because 40% of new HIV infections are transmitted unknowingly by people unaware of their HIV status, early diagnosis is important to reduce HIV transmission.5 Antigen/antibody-based HIV screening assays have 99.7% sensitivity and 99.3% specificity for HIV infection and can identify most (80%) acute infections that would otherwise require nucleic acid testing for detection.
QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus, 1 Tube - QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus is an indirect test for M. tuberculosis infection (including disease) and is intended for use in conjunction with risk assessment, radiography and other medical and diagnostic evaluations.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air. It usually affects the lungs, but sometimes also affects other parts of the body such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. A person with TB can die from it if it is left untreated. Usually, when people are sick from active TB germs, the germs are multiplying and destroying tissue in the body. They normally experience symptoms. TB disease is contagious if it’s in the lungs or throat (which it usually is). When these results are taken to a doctor, they will be prescribed with treatment to cure TB.
Symptoms of TB disease can be Sickness,Weakness,Unintentional Weight Loss,Night Sweats,Fever,Chest pain,Coughing or Coughing up blood.When a person with Tuberculosis disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, sings, or even just speak it puts out the TB germs into the air and risks other people around them.These germs can stay in the air for several hours, but it all depends on the environment.
