Hepatitis C Test

A hepatitis C test is recommended for people who have had a human immunodeficiency virus infection in the past, received blood transfusions, undergone organ transplants and injected drugs. People who use illicit drug injections, have a piercing or tattoo, receive abnormal results in liver panel tests, have been on long-term dialysis, are born to an HCV-positive mother and have a sexual partner with HCV infection should also undergo this test. HCV test is also performed in people when the following signs of liver disease are observed:

• Jaundice
• Nausea
• Dark urine
• Belly pain
• Diarrhoea
• Reduced appetite
• Frequent bruising
• Fatigue

Symptoms of severe liver disease include

• Swelling in the belly, ankles and feet
• Mental confusion

Hepatitis C screening is not recommended for pregnant women, public safety workers and emergency medical staff unless they are at a risk of acquiring an infection.

No special preparations are needed for hepatitis C test.

A blood sample is collected from a vein in the arm and stored in a vial attached to the needle. There may be slight discomfort at the time of needle prick, which will subside within a few minutes.

Normal hepatitis C test results indicate the absence of HCV infection in the body, though the infection might still be in an early stage to be detected accurately with this test. A re-test is recommended if HCV infection is still suspected.

Positive or indeterminate test results indicate the absence of HCV. People with this result might not have an infection or might have had an infection in the past. This is determined by further tests that is: HCV viral load test, HCV genotyping test, HCV RNA quantitative test and HCV RNA qualitative test. These tests help determine the presence and number of HCV virus in blood. Abnormal hepatitis C RNA test results indicate the presence of HCV infection and the amount of viral load present in body helps decide the treatment needed. The latter also helps monitor the efficiency of hepatitis C treatment.

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. This information is provided from a purely educational perspective and is in no way a substitute for medical advice from a qualified doctor.