Quick answer
The Hepatitis E Total Antibody Test costs ₹1,400 at Live Line Health Care. Measures all antibodies to hepatitis E, showing whether you have been infected at some time. No fasting is needed. It uses a blood sample and the report is usually ready within 24–48 hours. Book home sample collection or visit any of our 45 centres.
Also known as: Anti-HEV Total, HEV Total Antibody, Hepatitis E IgG, Hepatitis E Antibody, HEV Antibody Total, Anti-HEV Antibody
What is the Hepatitis E Total Antibody Test?
The Hepatitis E Total Antibody test measures all the antibodies your body has made against the hepatitis E virus, IgG and IgM combined. Because IgG builds up during infection and can remain for years, a reactive result tells your doctor that you have met the virus at some point. It does not say whether that was last month or long ago. In regions where hepatitis E spreads through water, including much of India, a sizeable share of adults carry these antibodies without ever having noticed an illness.
This gives the test a narrower role than its IgM counterpart. For someone with jaundice right now, the Hepatitis E IgM test is the one that points to a recent infection. The total antibody test is used alongside it to understand the overall picture, in public health surveys, and in some assessments of unexplained liver problems, particularly in people with weak immunity. Antibody levels can also fall over time, so a non-reactive result does not always prove that you have never been infected. Your doctor should decide whether this test adds anything in your situation.
What it measures: Combined IgG and IgM antibodies to the hepatitis E virus, a marker of infection at any time.
Parameters included (1)
- Anti-HEV Total Antibody (IgG and IgM)
Why is this test done?
- Alongside hepatitis E IgM, to build a fuller picture of an acute hepatitis
- Investigating unexplained raised liver enzymes, on a specialist’s advice
- Assessing past exposure in people with weak immunity, such as transplant recipients
- Community or outbreak surveys of hepatitis E exposure
When should you get tested?
- Raised liver enzymes without a clear cause
- A past episode of jaundice that was never explained
- Weak immunity with ongoing liver test abnormalities
- Living in an area that has had a hepatitis E outbreak
How to prepare for the Hepatitis E Total Antibody Test
- 1Food and drink before the test are fine.
- 2Tell the staff about pregnancy, transplant medicines or other treatments that lower immunity.
- 3If you have jaundice now, check with your doctor whether the IgM test should be done first or together with this one.
- 4Bring previous liver function and hepatitis reports to compare.
Hepatitis E Total Antibody Test normal range
| Parameter | Typical reference range |
|---|---|
| Reactive | Antibodies present: hepatitis E infection at some time, recent or past |
| Non-reactive | No antibodies detected, though levels can fade years after an old infection |
A reactive total antibody does not date the infection. Recent illness is judged with hepatitis E IgM, and sometimes HEV RNA. Ranges are typical adult values and vary between labs, age and sex. Always use the range printed on your report and discuss results with your doctor.
Understanding your results
- A reactive result with a non-reactive IgM usually means a past infection that has resolved.
- A reactive result with a reactive IgM supports a recent infection, read along with symptoms and liver tests.
- Protection after natural infection may not be complete or lifelong, so safe drinking water remains important.
- A non-reactive result makes earlier infection less likely but cannot rule it out completely.
Hepatitis E Total Antibody Test – FAQs
What is the price of the Hepatitis E Total Antibody Test?
The Hepatitis E Total Antibody Test costs ₹1,400 at Live Line Health Care, at all 45 centres and for home sample collection.
What is the difference between hepatitis E IgM and total antibody?
IgM appears early and fades within a few months, so it signals a recent infection. Total antibody includes IgG, which lasts much longer, so it shows infection at any time. For current jaundice, doctors rely mainly on the IgM test.
What does a reactive hepatitis E total antibody result mean?
It means you have been infected with hepatitis E at some point. On its own it cannot say when. If you are unwell now, your doctor will look at the IgM result and liver tests to decide whether the infection is recent.
If I had hepatitis E before, can I get it again?
Reinfection is possible but less common, as antibodies from a past infection usually give some protection. That protection may weaken over time. Safe drinking water and good hand hygiene remain the best defence, even for people who have had it.
Does this test show whether I have hepatitis E now?
Not by itself. A reactive total antibody can come from an old, cleared infection, especially in areas where hepatitis E is common. To check for a current infection, doctors use the hepatitis E IgM test and sometimes a test for the virus itself.
Why would a doctor order hepatitis E total antibody?
Usually to fill out the picture alongside IgM, to look for past exposure in someone with unexplained liver problems or weak immunity, or for public health studies. For most people with sudden jaundice, the IgM test is enough.
Where can I get the Hepatitis E Total Antibody Test done?
At any of our 45 Live Line Health Care centres in 40 cities across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Warangal, Kakinada and Nellore, or book home sample collection.
Medical disclaimer: This information is for general awareness only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor to interpret your results and before starting or changing any treatment.