Testing for Hepatitis C
Beyond Blood Tests: Additional Diagnostic Procedures
Your doctor will want to perform further testing if you have hepatitis C. These tests are necessary to keep an eye on your liver function. Health insurance companies may require certain tests as well.
Your doctor can use liver function tests to measure the level of enzymes and proteins in your liver. Liver enzymes typically rise seven to eight weeks after infection, and if your liver becomes damaged, those enzymes can spill into your blood.
Your doctor will also want to perform genotype tests to see which of the hepatitis C genotypes you have. There are six genotypes, but in the U.S., genotypes one, two, and three are most common. Doctors will use the results of this test to determine which medications to prescribe and how long you’ll need to take them.
Periodically, you must undergo testing to see how well your liver functions. Your doctor can check liver function in one of several ways.
Imaging tests are a common way to examine liver function. These tests include transient elastography, CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). They show your doctor what your liver looks like and measure how stiff it is. All of these tests are very safe and have virtually no side effects.
If your doctor can’t get a clear result from an imaging test, they may order a liver biopsy. This procedure involves inserting a small needle into your liver to take a tiny sample of tissue before sending that sample to a lab for testing.
Biopsies don’t usually cause side effects other than some soreness at the site where the doctor took the sample. However, in some cases, you may develop an infection or experience abnormal bleeding that requires a blood transfusion. To avoid an infection at the biopsy site, be sure to keep the area clean and dry.