Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that is caused by a variety of infectious viruses and noninfectious agents.¹ Each strain of the virus can cause liver disease, making an accurate diagnosis is critical for disease mitigation and improving patient outcomes.

Viral hepatitis is a worldwide public health issue that impacts millions of people. The WHO estimates that 296 million people worldwide are living with hepatitis B, 58 million people worldwide are living with hepatitis C, and 1.5 million people were newly infected with chronic hepatitis B along with 1.5 million people who were newly infected with chronic hepatitis C.²

The role of diagnostics is key as hepatitis infections can be “silent” making many infected individuals unaware of their diagnosis. Although hepatitis is widespread and highly prevalent, many people worldwide live with hepatitis B or C and do not have accessibility to testing or adequate treatment.¹ 

Due to the high prevalence of hepatitis, World Hepatitis Day is recognized annually on July 28^th – on the birthday of Dr. Baruch Blumberg who discovered hepatitis B in 1967, and proceeded to develop the first hepatitis B vaccine.³ World Hepatitis Day promotes the need to raise awareness, education, and encourage actions to prevent these infections to support better public health globally.

Hepatitis, especially hepatitis B, presents a complex clinical picture. Various markers are necessary for accurate diagnosis and efficient monitoring. 

The VIDAS^® Hepatitis panel includes 11 automated assays offering a complete solution for the diagnosis and monitoring of Hepatitis A, B, C, and E. Used together, they enable clinicians to provide a differential diagnosis for patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of hepatitis.