A WWW-ACCESSIBLE KNOWLEDGE-BASE FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF HEPATITIS SEROLOGIC TESTS

HEPAXPERT is a knowledge-based system that interprets the results of r outine serologic tests for infection with hepatitis A and B viruses. T he following tests are included: hepatitis A virus anti-bodies (anti-H AV), IgM antibodies to the hepatitis A virus (IgM anti-HAV), hepatitis A virus (HAV in stool, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibo dies (qualitative anti-HBs, quantitative anti-HBs titre), antibodies t o hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc and IgM anti-HBc), and hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) and antibodies (anti-HBe). HEPAXPERT/WWW-an implementation of HEPAXPERT-III for WWW-can be reached by URL http:// www.swun.com/hepax of the World Wide Web. After selecting HEPAXPERT/WW W, serologic test results can be entered and will be transferred as an e-mail message for subsequent interpretation which is done off-line w ith HEPAXPERT-III. The textual interpretation is sent back via e-mail. Each qualitative test for hepatitis A and B antibodies and antigens m ay produce one of four possible results: positive, negative, borderlin e, and not tested. To cover the resulting 64 (A) and 57344 (B) combina tions of findings, the knowledge base of HEPAXPERT/WWW contains 16 rul es for hepatitis A and 131 rules for hepatitis B serology interpretati on. This basic knowledge is structured such that all possible combinat ions of findings can be interpreted and there is no overlap in the pre mises underlying the rules. The reports that the system automatically generates include: (a) the transferred results of the tests; (b) a det ailed analysis of the results, including virus exposure, immunity, sta ge of illness, prognosis, infectiousness, and vaccination recommendati on; and (c) optional: an ID to distinguish the origin of the interpret ation requests. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.