. Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a highly contagious virus that infects the liver, causing inflammation and potentially leading to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, or liver cancer.
. It is transmitted through contact with infected blood, sexual contact, sharing needles, from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth, and through contaminated medical equipment or blood transfusions.
. Symptoms of HBV infection include fatigue, jaundice, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain, and nausea, although many infections, especially in early stages, are asymptomatic.
. HBc IgM, specifically, indicates a recent or acute HBV infection or a flare-up of chronic infection.
Note: HBc IgM is not a standalone marker for diagnosing HBV infection. It is interpreted alongside other tests like HBsAg, HBV DNA, and liver function tests, for a comprehensive evaluation.