Hepatitis Diagnosis
What Are HCV RNA Tests?
HCV RNA tests are essential for diagnosing and treating hepatitis C infections. Here's a brief description of the two types and how they are used.
Hepatitis C Genotypes
How are hepatitis C genotypes important? Here is location and treatment information about hepatitis C genotypes 1 through 6.
What Is Viral Load?
Viral load is a measurement of the amount of virus in your blood. Most commonly, viral load is found in people with hepatitis C. Using a test called quantitative HCV RNA, the number of hepatitis viruses in the blood is determined by how much viral RNA (the virus' genetic material) is detected. There is also a viral load test for hepatitis B.
Interpreting the Hepatitis B Serologic Panel
Interpreting Hepatitis B Blood Tests and the Serologic Panel
What Is Your METAVIR Score?
The Metavir Score is a system to quantify the degree of inflammation and fibrosis of a liver biopsy. Here's what the numbers mean.
What Is Serum Albumin?
Blood tests, like serum albumin, can help determine liver disease like cirrhosis. Here's a brief description of how doctors will use and interpret this liver function test.
Liver Enzymes
Liver enzymes allow doctors to learn about the health of your liver. There are thousands of these enzymes in the liver and blood stream, but two of them--two aminotransferases--are especially useful for determining liver disease: AST and ALT.
Diagnosing Hepatitis
Doctors use several methods to help diagnose hepatitis. These include blood tests for enzymes and antibodies and more advanced testing like biopsy and magnetic resonance imaging.
Blood Tests for Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver. Doctors use blood tests to diagnose hepatitis C infection, determine the best course of treatment and monitor its progress. Three common types of hepatitis C blood tests are antibody tests, genotyping and hepatitis C RNA. This article discusses each of these.
What Is a Liver Biopsy?
A liver biopsy is often necessary for people with liver disease, including hepatitis. A liver biopsy removes a very small piece of your liver using a special needle. The removed tissue is then studied by a pathologist who reports the results to your physician. Believe it or not, the process is very quick and relatively painless.
More Information About Blood Tests for Viral Hepatitis
Doctors use blood tests to diagnose viral hepatitis. Learn about how these tests are done and what they mean.
Diagnosing the Different Types of Hepatitis
Doctors use several methods to diagnose different types of hepatitis. This article from the Hepatitis Foundation International describes the basic tests.
