Hepatitis A cannot be distinguished from other types of viral hepatitis on the basis of clinical or epidemiologic features alone. Serologic testing is required and acute Hepatitis A infection is confirmed by the presence of IgM anti-Hepatitis A in serum.

Molecular detection of Hepatitis A RNA and genotyping has been an important tool to characterize the virus and improve the surveillance on the diversity of Hepatitis A strains around the globe.