liver and gallbladder disorders
Hepatitis B, Acute
Diagnosis of Acute Hepatitis B
Blood tests Doctors suspect hepatitis based on typical symptoms, such as jaundice. Testing usually begins with blood tests to determine how well the liver is functioning and whether it is damaged ( Liver Blood Tests ). Liver tests involve measuring the levels of liver enzymes and other substances produced by the liver. If tests detect liver abnormalities, other blood tests are done to check for hepatitis virus infection. These blood tests can identify parts of specific viruses (antigens), specific antibodies produced by the body to fight the virus, and sometimes genetic material (RNA or DNA) of viruses. If hepatitis B virus is confirmed and is severe (fulminant), doctors also check for the hepatitis D virus, which is present in up to 50% of people with fulminant hepatitis B. 