title: Diagnostic markers for hepatitis virus infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Accurate diagnosis and characterization of hepatitis viruses are essential from a public health perspective and for clinical management.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review recent advances in the diagnosis of viral hepatitis A - D and their clinical utilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of the literature published up to 2007.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recent advances in the sensitivity and ease of serologic and molecular diagnostics have improved our understanding of the natural history of viral hepatitis, are helpful in the pretreatment evaluation and provide guidance to antiviral therapy. As the technology improves, this will be reflected in an increased reliance and expanded role of these tests in clinical management and improved safety of the blood supply.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University School of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Prista
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Charuworn
authors.forename: Ramsey
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cheung