All Adults Pregnant Women And People With Risk Factors Should Get Tested For Hepatitis C
Most people who get infected with hepatitis C virus develop a chronic, or lifelong, infection. Left untreated, chronic hepatitis C can cause serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death. People can live without symptoms or feeling sick, so testing is the only way to know if you have hepatitis C. Getting tested is important to find out if you are infected so you can get lifesaving treatment that can cure hepatitis C.
Implications For Service Providers
Point-of-care testing for hepatitis C antibodies and RNA is highly accurate and could increase testing uptake. Point-of-care testing can be particularly useful among communities with a higher prevalence of hepatitis C, such as people who use drugs, or people living in remote settings. Point-of-care testing can increase access to testing and simplify the process by enabling providers to conduct the testing and share the results at the same appointment. It also allows for hepatitis C testing in non-traditional settings where people are already accessing services such as harm reduction services, services that support people experiencing homelessness such as shelters or drop-in programs, and mobile services, as well as during outreach.
Service providers will need to consider whether they have access to point-of-care tests and how these test results are integrated into the public health and medical systems. Service providers can consider advocating for public funding of point-of-care testing in their regions and for novel ways to disseminate the tests, to help expand access to testing. Service providers can also consider whether advocating for acceptance of point-of-care test results by the public health and medical systems may be needed to truly simplify the cascade of care and realize the full benefits of point-of-care testing.
Related resources
You can have hepatitis C and not know it Client resources including a video, poster and postcard
Treatments And Success Of Hepatitis C
In the modern era, Hepatitis C cases have been dealt with a lot of precision. This has led to a huge rate of success in most cases. It is said that the treatment option has cured almost 90% of the cases which is indeed a significant number. Medically approved drugs are being used to treat Hepatitis C virus when it shows up in hepatitis C blood test. The treatment is not painful. In severe cases, the liver transplant can be an option for treatment as the liver is completely damaged.
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Hepatitis C Treatment If Your Test Is Reactive
If your instant Hepatitis C test is reactive for infection, we will ask you for a blood sample for further testing at our CPA accredited laboratories. If you are positive for Hepatitis C, Better2Knows expert sexual health advisors can refer you to a specialist who will offer further advice and discuss your treatment options.
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Other Things To Know:
- After a successful course of treatment for hepatitis C, the hepatitis C antibody remains detectable, but the hepatitis C RNA will be undetectable.
- If you plan to donate blood, you will be tested for the hepatitis C antibody and will be turned away even if you do not have an active infection.
- Any patient with a positive test result for the hepatitis C antibody should have additional tests to determine whether or not the virus is still active.
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If You Have Hepatitis C Can You Have Sex Without Infecting Your Partner
Hepatitis C is a virus that is transmitted by blood. The most common ways people become infected with hepatitis C are through needle sharing, such as during injection drug use, or from blood transfusions received before 1992.
Becoming infected from sex is not common, but it does happen. If you have hepatitis C, the chance of infecting a sex partner is higher if you are with a new partner or if you have had many different partners over time. If you have hepatitis C, the chance of infecting a sex partner is lower if you are with a longtime stable partner and if you are in a monogamous relationship.
If your sex partner is new to you, or if you have many different partners, it is safer if you use condoms during sex to reduce the chance of transmitting hepatitis C.
It is always best to talk directly with your health care provider to assess whether you should start using condoms. If you are in a sexual relationship and either you or your partner has hepatitis C, the other partner should be tested for hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted viruses once a year, or as advised by your provider.
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How The Test Works
The HCV antibody test requires a small blood sample. This sample is usually taken by a lab technician who draws a vial of blood from a vein in your arm. The actual blood draw usually takes less than a minute.
Your blood sample is then analyzed to see if antibodies for hepatitis C are present in your blood. Antibodies are Y-shaped proteins that your body creates to fight off pathogens.
Antibodies are specific to the virus or infection they are created to target, so if youve ever had hepatitis C, your body will have produced antibodies to fight it. If youve never had a hep C infection, those antibodies wont be present in your blood.
Results from the test can take anywhere from a few days to a week or two. Rapid tests for hepatitis C are also available if you need the results in an hour or less.
If your HCV antibody test comes back as reactive, it means that one of two things is true:
- you have an active case of hepatitis COR
- you have had hepatitis C at some point in the past
If you have hepatitis C, your body will have the ability to produce hepatitis C antibodies for the rest of your life. This is why a reactive result doesnt always mean that you have an active infection.
If your HCV antibody test comes back as nonreactive, it means two things are true:
- you dont currently have hepatitis C AND
- youve never had an active hepatitis C infection
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Early Treatment Can Help You Prevent Liver Cancer Or Liver Failure
According to the CDC, out of every 100 people with hepatitis C:
- More than half will develop chronic liver disease.
- About 5 to 25 will get cirrhosis, a dangerous scarring of the liver.
- 1-5 will die from liver cancer or liver failure.
Getting tested and treated early can stop the hepatitis C virus from triggering cirrhosis or cancer. Your doctor will be able to keep an eye out for signs of liver trouble. They can start treatment before you serious damage starts.
Show Sources
CDC: “Hepatitis C FAQs for Health Professionals,” “Hepatitis C Fact Sheet,” “Hepatitis C: What to Expect When Getting Tested,” “Living with Chronic Hepatitis C.”
When Is The Right Time To Test For Hepatitis C
Now is the best time to test for hepatitis C. Know your sexual health status today.
If you have had a recent unprotected sexual encounter with someone whose hepatitis C status you do not know, youshould get tested. Also, if you have recently been exposed to needles or been injured by a sharp object, you are atrisk of contracting hepatitis C. Getting tested now is the best option to prevent acute hepatitis C from developinginto chronic hepatitis C. On average it takes the body about 8-9 weeks to create antibodies. This is the doctorrecommended period for hepatitis C testing.
Also if you have not been tested for other STDs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV-1, HIV-2, hepatitis A andB, herpes-1 or herpes-2, in the last year, our clinicians recommend taking the all-inclusive10 Test Panel to ensure that you are completely STD free.
We also offer a chlamydia-gonorrhea test panel. Chlamydia andgonorrhea are known as co-existing infections, meaning that having one infection may put you at risk of having theother.
For answers to your questions about testing for hepatitis C, call our Care Advisors at.
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Appropriate Uses Of The Hcv Rna Test
There are 4 major reasons that HCV RNA tests are used:
More rarely, HCV RNA is used when either very acute HCV infection is suspected or a false HCV Ab is suspected.
It would not be appropriate to repeatedly order HCV RNA viral load screening for a patient who is not on or was recently on HCV treatment, or to use the HCV viral load to determine the severity of the patient’s infection or the patient’s risk of developing significant liver disease.
What Are The Advantages Of Point
Testing is a critical step to diagnose and link people with hepatitis C to care and treatment services and can also serve as an important part of prevention services and education. Compared with other types of testing, point-of-care testing has advantages that could reduce some barriers to hepatitis C testing. To achieve elimination of hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030, advances in hepatitis C testing are required to simplify the hepatitis C cascade of care in Canada.7
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What Does A Reactive Hcv Antibody Test Result Mean
A reactive or positive antibody test means you have been infected with the hepatitis C virus at some point in time.
Once people have been infected, they will always have antibodies in their blood. This is true if they have cleared the virus, have been cured, or still have the virus in their blood.
A reactive antibody test does not necessarily mean that you currently have hepatitis C and a follow-up test is needed.
What Kind Of Panels Are Used For Hep B
A common panel checks for: 1 Hepatitis A IgM antibodies and IgG antibodies . 2 Hepatitis B surface antigen . 3 Hepatitis B surface antibody . 4 Hepatitis B IgM core antibody and IgG core antibody . 5 Hepatitis B type e antigen . 6 Hepatitis C antibodies .
What kind of blood test is hepatitis panel?
A hepatitis panel is a blood test that doctors use to diagnose hepatitis. Hepatitis refers to a group of viral liver diseases, including hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. The blood test will typically include tests for three common types of hepatitis.
Is it possible to get a negative result from a hepatitis panel?
Negative result If the hepatitis panel does not identify any antigens or antibodies, then the person having the test is unlikely to have hepatitis. The main exception to this is if a doctor performs the blood test too early.
What is the purpose of a viral panel test?
The viral panel is used to: The test may also be performed to detect: delta agent , a rare form of hepatitis that only occurs in people with hepatitis B Your doctor will need to take a sample of blood from your arm.
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Diagnosing Hepatitis A B & C
At NYU Langone, hepatologists, or liver specialists, and infectious disease specialists use blood tests to diagnose hepatitis A, B, and C. These viral infections cause inflammation of the liver.
If the results of a blood test confirm a diagnosis of viral hepatitis, your doctor may recommend imaging tests or a liver biopsy to determine the extent of liver disease.
Tests After The Diagnosis
Once the doctor knows you have hep C, theyâll do tests to find out more about your condition. This will help determine your treatment. They could include:
- Genotype tests to find out which of the six kinds of hepatitis C you have.
- Liver function tests. They measure proteins and enzymes levels, which usually rise 7 to 8 weeks after youâre infected. As your liver gets damaged, enzymes leak into your bloodstream. But you can have normal enzyme levels and still have hepatitis C.
- Tests to check for liver damage. You might get:
- Elastography. Doctors use a special ultrasound machine to feel how stiff your liver is.
- Liver biopsy. The doctor inserts a needle into your liver to take a tiny piece to examine in the lab.
- Imaging tests. These use various methods to take pictures or show images of your insides. They include:
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Should Every Patient Of Hepatitis Be Screened For All Types Of Hepatitis As Included In The Panel Tests
It is not necessary to conduct a hepatitis panel test on all patients. If the specific hepatitis virus that has caused the infection is known, then the specific hepatitis test may only be conducted. In some cases, doctors may want to know how the treatment is going on or to evaluate the progression of a disease. In such cases, only specific hepatitis tests are conducted.
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Why It Is Done
You may need these tests if:
- You have symptoms of hepatitis.
- You may have been exposed to the virus. You are more likely to have been exposed to the virus if you inject drugs or are exposed to body fluids .
- You’ve had other tests that show you have liver problems.
- You have an HIV infection.
The tests also are done to help your doctor decide about your treatment and see how well it works.
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How Long Should I Fast Before Blood Test
You are required to fast for up to 12 hours before going for a blood test. Drinking coffee, tea or even water can affect blood test results.
Avoid Over Fasting, this particularly applies to diabetic individuals and pregnant women. Over fasting can cause dehydration and hypoglycemia in diabetics. Over fasting can also sometimes alter test results.
Make sure to carry some snacks to your physicians office so that you can eat immediately after blood is drawn. Blood glucose for postprandial levels requires you to eat and give a blood sample after an hour of a meal.
Hopefully, this article has given you a good idea about fasting for blood tests and which blood tests require fasting. These questions should additionally be clarified with your physician. This is because your physician will be able to guide you better.
Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Himanshi is a Homoeopathic consultant and currently working as a lecturer in Post-graduate faculty of Homeopathy, Parul University, Vadodara. Completed BHMS and MD in Homeopathy in January 2018 and also has a clinical experience of about 6 years. Personal interests include reading, spending time with family and traveling.
Explanation Of Test Results:
If this test result is positive, it means your body was exposed to the hepatitis C virus and made antibodies . However, it does not tell you whether you are still infected with hepatitis C. If the antibody test result is positive, you should be tested for hepatitis C RNA , which determines whether you are chronically infected. The lab will perform this RNA test automatically if your hepatitis C antibody test is positive.
If the antibody test result is negative, it means you have not been infected with the hepatitis C virus, and further testing for hepatitis C usually is not needed.
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Hepatitis B Blood Tests
The Hepatitis B Panel of Blood Tests
Only one sample of blood is needed for a hepatitis B blood test, but the Hepatitis B Panel includes three parts. All three test results are needed to fully understand whether a person is infected or not. Below is an explanation of the 3-part Hepatitis B Panel of blood test results.
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Time For Processing Hcv Ab Test Results
The turnaround time for 3rd-generation EIAs is at least 1 day. Many labs do not perform the tests on site and must send specimens to another lab for processing, which may further increase the turnaround time.
A point-of-care test is also available. The OraQuick® HCV Rapid Antibody Test is an FDA-approved test that can be performed with a fingerstick . It is also a CLIA-waived test and therefore can be used in clinic offices and outreach facilities. Results are reported as reactive or nonreactive within 20 minutes. Just as for the standard HCV Ab test done in the lab, a positive OraQuick® test must be confirmed by an HCV RNA test. The sensitivity and specificity of the test is similar to that of the laboratory-based assays.
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