Differential diagnosis of acute HBsAg positive hepatitis using IgM anti-HBc by a rapid, fully automated microparticle enzyme immunoassay.

Background/aims: We determined the diagnostic significance of IgM anti-HBc by a rapid, fully automated microparticle enzyme immunoassay (IMx CORE-M) in acute HBsAg positive hepatitis.

Methods: We studied prospectively for at least 6 months 100 patients with acute self-limited hepatitis B (group A) and 40 patients with acute hepatitis superimposed on histologically confirmed chronic hepatitis B (group B). On admission, all patients in group A were positive and those in group B were negative for IgM anti-HBc by a commercially available enzyme immunoassay.