Hepatitis C Virus Tests: What To Think About

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What To Think About

• There is no vaccine at this time to prevent infections with the hepatitis C virus.
• Hepatitis antibodies can take weeks to develop, so your results may be negative even though you have the early stages of an infection (false-negative).
• All donated blood and organs are tested for hepatitis C before being used.
• Other tests that show how well the liver is working are usually done if your doctor thinks you may have hepatitis C. These may include blood tests for bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase. For more information, see the medical tests Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase, Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST).
• Many states require that some types of hepatitis infections be reported to the local health department. The health department can then send out a warning to other people who may have been infected with the hepatitis virus, such as those who are close contacts of someone who has hepatitis C.
• A home test kit is available for hepatitis C (HCV). The kit contains a sharp instrument (lancet) that you use to draw a small sample of blood from your fingertip. The blood sample is then placed on a piece of collection paper and mailed in a prepaid envelope to a lab for testing. Results are available in 10 days. You are given an identification number to use when calling a toll-free number to obtain confidential results. If the results of the test are positive, it is important for you to make an appointment with your health professional to confirm the test results, determine the amount of damage to your liver, and determine whether antiviral therapy is an option.

Last updated:	August 27, 2007
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, W. Thomas London, MD - Hepatology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC