The detection in urine specimens of IgG and IgM antibodies to hepatitis A and hepatitis B core antigens

Abstract

The use of urine as a noninvasive specimen for the diagnosis of hepatitis A (HAV) and hepatitis B (HBV) virus infections was investigated. Specimens of urine were collected at the same time as blood or saliva specimens, or singly in cases of previously serologically confirmed recent infection. The specimens were tested for IgG and IgM anti-HAV and anti-HBc by immunoglobulin class-specific capture radioimmunoassays (GACRIA and MACRIA). On the basis of assays on urine specimens it was possible to distinguish between individuals who were susceptible or immune to HAV or who had recently been infected with HAV. Using assays on 327 corresponding saliva specimens as reference tests, the observed sensitivity and specificity of tests on urine specimens by anti-HAV GACRIA were 98.9% and 99.1%, respectively, and by anti-HAV MACRIA were 95.8% and 99.6%, respectively. IgM and IgG anti-HBc were detected readily in the urine of 35 acute or recent cases of hepatitis B but were not found in the urine of seronegative individuals. Of the urine specimens from 52 individuals who were HBsAg carriers or who had had long past HBV infections, 49 contained detectable IgG anti-HBc. Of urine specimens from 42 HBsAg carriers, 11 contained raised IgM anti-HBc levels. Urine, which is a convenient specimen to collect, can be used to study outbreaks of hepatitis A, to ascertain the HAV immune status of individuals, to differentiate hepatitis A from hepatitis B, and to identify individuals who have been naturally exposed to HBV.

Advantage of urine based molecular diagnosis of Zika virus

“…Diagnosis of other viral infections in urine and saliva samples has been reported for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis A, B, and C, and rubella [14][15][16][17][18][19][20], and more recently in other flaviviruses, West-Nile virus (WNV) [21][22][23] and Dengue (DENV) serotypes -1, -2, -3, and -4 [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]. WNV can be detected longer in urine than serum [21] and can be isolated from urine [22,23].…”

Diagnosis of Hepatitis A Virus Infection: a Molecular Approach

“…IgG and IgA anti-HAV are detected in serum, saliva, urine, and feces (39,60,115,123,151,152,177,178,183,214). Saliva tests have been reported as an alternative to conventional serum testing for anti-HAV due to their simplicity of sample collection (115,177,178).…”

Evaluation of Urine as a Clinical Specimen for Diagnosis of Hepatitis A

“…Among the assays employed for detection of salivary or urinary antibodies against infectious agents, antibody class capture assays were preferred to conventional assays (8,22,23). The capture assays have been reported to be dependable due to their abilities to capture specific immunoglobulin even at low levels and to establish specificity in the initial stage of the assay.…”

“…The capture assays have been reported to be dependable due to their abilities to capture specific immunoglobulin even at low levels and to establish specificity in the initial stage of the assay. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG capture radioimmunosorbent assays have been demonstrated to detect urinary and salivary anti-hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) antibodies (23). An IgG capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been attempted for detection of antibodies to respiratory syncytial and influenza A/Taiwan (H1N1) viruses in urine (11).…”