What temperature is required for rapid inactivation of Hepatitis A virus?

• A. 50 C
• B. >60 C
• C. 100 C
• D. 20 C

Answer: (B)

Hepatitis A virus loses infectivity mainly when heat denatures its capsid, and this happens quickly once you exceed a certain temperature. For HAV, that critical point is about 60°C. Above this temperature, with a proper exposure time, the virus is rapidly inactivated, whereas lower temperatures don’t reliably achieve rapid inactivation.

So heating above 60°C is the condition most consistently achieving fast loss of HAV infectivity. Room temperature (20°C) and a modest 50°C don’t provide enough heat for rapid inactivation. While boiling (100°C) would also inactivate HAV rapidly, the concept being tested is the threshold above which rapid inactivation occurs, which is any temperature greater than 60°C.