How is Hepatitis C detected?
Hepatitis C is a viral disease that results in swelling and inflammation of the liver. Transmission of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) occurs through infected blood. A hepatitis C infection can result in serious liver damage if not treated promptly. Most people suffering from hepatitis C are unaware of the infection because symptoms of the disease take decades to appear. In this article, we’ll explore how a hepatitis C diagnosis is made.
Diagnosis of Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C commonly occurs in people who inject or use drugs, have HIV infection, are pregnant, are on kidney dialysis, have abnormal live enzyme levels, or have had a recent blood transfusion. To determine if a person has ever been infected with the hepatitis C virus, an HCV antibody test is performed. If the screening test comes back positive, then the following blood tests are performed to confirm the disease diagnosis.
- Viral load: this test is done to determine the amount of hepatitis C virus present in the bloodstream of the infected individual.
- Detection of virus genotypes: HCV has six genotypes. It is important to determine the genotype of the virus to plan an effective treatment regimen.
A person diagnosed with hepatitis C may be tested for liver damage: These tests include:
- Magnetic resonance elastography- Tthis non-invasive imaging technique is used to evaluate the stiffness of the liver. Stiffness of the liver indicates scarring and fibrosis.
- Transient elastography is also an imaging technique that uses ultrasound vibrations to determine liver stiffness.
- Liver biopsy: in this test, a needle is inserted to take out the liver sample and analyse the liver sample in the lab.
- Blood tests are also performed to determine the scarring of the liver.
Conclusion
Infection with HCV can lead to severe inflammation and damage to the liver. Most of the time, people infected with hepatitis C do not have symptoms. A timely diagnosis of the disease is important to plan treatment and prevention of disease transmission. To diagnose liver damage, magnetic resonance elastography, ultrasound elastography, liver biopsy, and blood tests are performed. Having a preventive health insurance plan in place can be helpful in maintaining well-being and catching any potential health issues early, ensuring the necessary care to stay healthy.