Hepatitis C Diagnostic & Laboratory Testing

Doctors will start by checking your blood for:

Anti-HCV antibodies: These are proteins your body makes when it finds the hep C virus in your blood.
They usually show up about 12 weeks after infection.

 How long does it take to get results? It usually takes a few days to a week to get results, though
a rapid test is available in some places.

 What do the results mean?

o Non-Reactive or negative:

 You don’t have hep C.

 If you’ve been exposed in the last 6 months, you’ll need to be retested.

o Reactive or positive:

 You have hep C antibodies, and you’ve been infected at some point.

 You’ll need another test to make sure.

If your antibody test is positive, you’ll get this test:

RNA: It measures the number of viral RNA (genetic material from the hepatitis virus) particles in your
blood. Your doctor might refer to this as your viral load. They usually show up 1-2 weeks after you’re
infected.

What do the results mean?

Negative: You don’t have hep C.

Positive: You have hep C.

As part of the diagnosis process, you might also get:

Liver function tests: They measure proteins and enzymes levels, which usually rise 7 to 8 weeks after
you’re infected. As your liver gets damaged, enzymes leak into your bloodstream. But you can have
normal enzyme levels and still have hepatitis C.

Tests After the Diagnosis

Once the doctor knows you have hep C, he’ll do tests to find out more about your condition. They could
include:

 Genotype tests to find out which of the six kinds (genotypes) of hepatitis C you have.

 Tests to check for liver damage. You might get:

o Elastography: Doctors use a special ultrasound machine to feel how stiff your liver is.

o Liver biopsy: The doctor inserts a needle into your liver to take a tiny piece to examine in
the lab.
 o Imaging tests: These use various methods to take pictures or show images of your
insides. They include:

 CT scan

 Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

 Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE)

 Ultrasound

 Liver function tests (LFTs) or liver enzyme tests: These blood tests help the doctor know how
well your liver is working

These test results will help the doctor decide which treatment is right for you. 

Health Teachings:

(Prevention)What to Avoid:

●Sharing needles, syringes, or other paraphernalia used for injection drug use

●Receiving a blood transfusion before 1990, when blood was not routinely tested for hepatitis C or
other infections

●Having sex with an infected person

It is also possible to get the hepatitis C virus by:

●Getting body piercings or tattoos done with improperly sanitized equipment

●Sharing straws used for snorting cocaine

●Sharing toothbrushes, razors, or other things that could have blood on them

●Getting stuck with a sharp object that has contaminated blood on it (as might happen in a health care
setting)

When Infected:

Avoid alcohol and other drugs that could harm the liver — People with hepatitis C should avoid all
substances that are known to damage the liver. This includes:

●Alcohol

●Some supplements and herbal remedies, such as kava kava

●Some prescribed medications

Never start any new medications or supplements without first checking with your doctor - To find out
if anything you take could harm your liver, put all the bottles of all the medications you take into a bag
and take them with you to the doctor who manages your liver disease. Include all over-the-counter
medications, supplements, and herbal drugs, as well as any prescriptions you take.
Sharing your concerns with others who have the same diagnosis can help you learn to live with
hepatitis C.

If you have hepatitis C and cirrhosis, you should have an ultrasound done every six months to check
for signs of cancer.