[Serological diagnosis of virus hepatitis (author's transl)]

Hepatitis A is diagnosed by the detection of specific IgM-antibodies. The virus itself can be found in stool specimens. Gammaglobulin is useful in prophylaxis of Hepatitis A. In the course of Hepatitis A HBs- and HBe-antigen as well as HBc(IgM and IgG)-, HBs- and HBe-antibodies can be detected. By analysis of this parameters information is obtained about acute or chronic hepatitis as well as about the probability of infectivity of a blood sample. Hepatitis Non A Non B is most important after blood transfusion and shows a strong tendency to chronicity. So far no test for specific diagnosis exists in practice. Besides the agents mentioned a hepatitis also can be caused by cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr-virus and some tropical viruses.