HEPATITIS DELTA ANTIBODY

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) affects 5% of the world population who have a chronic infection with Hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis D infection cannot occur in the absence of HBV because HDV requires HBV for its growth. This type of infection is seen in patients on dialysis, needle sharing in drug addicts & people living in crowded areas. Presence of infection with both HBV & HDV causes severe form of hepatitis which progresses rapidly & can lead to liver cancer. People who are carriers of HBV but do not have any symptoms, are at a risk of infection with HDV. This test indicates that you are having active infection.