Laboratory Diagnosis of Viral Hepatitis

Viral hepatitis is a disease of major concern, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although a variety of viruses can cause hepatitis, the five most common viruses that are associated with liver disease include hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D virus (HDV), and hepatitis E virus (HEV). These viruses represent a heterogeneous group of genetically unrelated agents which are hepatotropic. While HAV and HEV cause only acute liver disease, infection with HBV, HCV, and HDV can lead to either acute or chronic hepatitis. In 1994, Deka and colleagues (1) described an enteric agent, designated hepatitis F virus (HFV), which is thought to be associated with sporadic non-A-E hepatitis in humans. More recently, two additional viruses, hepatitis GB virus (GBV) and hepatitis G virus (HGV), have been described and linked to acute viral hepatitis (2,3).