Testing for viral hepatitis.

Advances made within the past decade in the delineation of the structural components of the hepatitis B virus (HBV), including the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and the hepatitis B core antigen (HBc), have resulted in the recent commercial availability of new methods of serologic testing. These tests, which include the core antigen antibody (anti-HBc) and the surface antibody (anti-HBs), facilitate the diagnosis and management of this illness by primary care physicians. In addition, a serologic test (anti-HAV) is available to diagnose or exclude hepatitis A, and research efforts are progressing in an attempt to identify a specific marker for non-A non-B hepatitis.