title: Detection of immunoglobulin M antibodies to hepatitis A virus by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
abstract: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies to hepatitis A virus is described. The test uses the principle of binding of IgM antibodies to anti-IgM-coated microtiter plates to determine whether the IgM antibodies attached have specificities for hepatitis A virus. In three patients with hepatitis type A followed up to 12 months, IgM antibodies to hepatitis A virus could be demonstrated from the onset of illness and during the following 2 to 3 months. When acute-phase sera from 48 patients with acute hepatitis were tested, IgM antibodies to hepatitis A virus could only be demonstrated in 18 patients previously classified as type A, whereas 30 patients with type B and non-A non-B hepatitis were negative. IgM antibodies to hepatitis A virus could not be demonstrated in 108 normal sera nor in 55 sera containing rheumatoid factor. These results indicate that the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IgM antibodies to hepatitis A virus is useful in the serodiagnosis of acute hepatitis type A on a single serum sample taken during the acute phase of illness.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M