Tests for hepatitis E
The information on this page is for:
- Adults with Hepatitis E or suspected Hepatitis E
- Family, friends, carers, and healthcare professionals.
The tests for hepatitis E are blood tests. There are usually 2 tests for hepatitis E. An antibody test and a test to look for the virus’ RNA. These tests can often be done with the same sample. You can find out more about these tests in the drop-down boxes below.
You will probably also have tests for other types of viral hepatitis, and tests to see how your liver is doing. You can find out more about liver blood tests here.
If doctors think you have any kind of liver condition, you should be tested for viral hepatitis. The symptoms of many liver conditions are very similar. So even if doctors do not think that hepatitis E is the cause for you, it is important to get tested to rule it out.
On this page:
Hepatitis E antibody test
Your immune system is always on the lookout for things in your body that should not be there. When it spots something, like a new virus, it has lots of ways to deal with it.
One of the things your immune system does is start to make lots of antibodies. These antibodies are proteins. They are specially selected because they stick to parts of the virus.
Once the antibodies have stuck, they act as a signal to other parts of your immune system. Telling them to come and get rid of the virus.
The antibody test looks for antibodies against hepatitis E in your blood. It can take 2 to 6 weeks for your body to start making enough antibodies for the test to work. So if you have only just picked up the virus the test might be negative.
After you have got rid of the virus, your immune system will start to make a slightly different type of antibody. These antibodies stay in your blood to stop you getting hepatitis E again. Because they are a different type, they will not be picked up on the antibody test used to diagnose hepatitis E.
So the hepatitis E antibody test will only be positive if you have the virus at the time of the test.
If you are immunosuppressed, you might not make antibodies. So you should have an RNA test instead.
Hepatitis E RNA test
This might be called a PCR test.
The hepatitis E virus contains genetic material called RNA. This is the instructions for making more copies of the virus.
The RNA test looks for this RNA in your blood. The RNA can also be found in the poo of someone with hepatitis E.
You might also hear this called a PCR test because a machine called a PCR machine is used to carry out the test.
RNA tests can pick up the virus sooner than an antibody test. The RNA test will start to work just before you get symptoms. But for most people it will only work for about 3 weeks after symptoms start. This is because your body is getting rid of the virus, so there is less of its RNA in your blood.
For people who develop long term (chronic) hepatitis E, the RNA test can carry on working for longer. If you have chronic hepatitis E you might have regular RNA tests to see how your treatment is working.
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This content was last reviewed: November 2023
Our expert reviewers:
We would like to thank everyone who helped with creating and reviewing this page. Including Professor Stephen Ryder, consultant hepatologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS trust and Dr Ahmed Elsharkawy, consultant hepatologist. And all our patient reviewers.
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Everyone’s experience of liver disease will be different. Always talk to your specialist medical team for personal advice.
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