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Screening of Hepatitis C

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Screening of Hepatitis C
Screening of Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is liver inflammation that results from a viral infection, which can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis C, leading to cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2019 data, hepatitis C remains prevalent worldwide, with about 58 million cases and 400,000 deaths each year.

Importance of Hepatitis C Screening

Hepatitis C screening is important for three main reasons:

  • It is prevalent, especially in certain geographical areas and some at-risk populations.
  • It can progress silently, often with minimal symptoms for an extended period.
  • It can develop into chronic hepatitis C and lead to severe complications like cirrhosis, where the chances of successful treatment are lower.

While acute hepatitis C typically lasts less than 6 months, chronic hepatitis C can persist for a lifetime, making early detection crucial for preventing long-term health issues.

Who Needs a Hepatitis C Screening?

As blood is the most contagious route of hepatitis C transmission, there are generally five categories of people who need to undergo a screening test for hepatitis C. These categories include:

  • Patients who frequently undergo haemodialysis
  • Patients who have received blood transfusions, especially from a hepatitis C-infected donor
  • Children of a hepatitis C-infected mother
  • People born between 1945-1965
  • People who have abnormally high levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
Early detection can prevent severe complications. If you fall into any of these categories, book a hepatitis C screening at our clinic today.
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Hepatitis C Screening Tests

There are four screening tests for hepatitis C, including:

Hepatitis C Antibody Test If a patient is suspected to have hepatitis C, they may undergo the hepatitis C antibody test, which reveals whether the blood contains hepatitis C antibodies. Detection of such antibodies confirms that the patient has had hepatitis C. However, the hepatitis C antibody test does not show if they are currently infected with hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C Qualitative Test (PCR Test) If the hepatitis C antibody test is positive, the patient will undergo a hepatitis C RNA qualitative test (PCR test). This test is more specific because it detects the nucleic acids of the hepatitis C virus in the blood, allowing the doctor to determine if the patient has an active infection.

Hepatitis C Quantitative Test (Viral Load) During hepatitis C treatment, the patient will want to know if the treatment is effective. To determine this, the doctor may perform a hepatitis C quantitative test, which measures the amount of the hepatitis C virus in the blood before and after treatment.

Hepatitis C Genotyping In treating hepatitis C, it is useful to identify the specific genotype of the virus. There are six distinct genotypes (1 to 6), which are useful in prescribing treatment. For example, genotypes 2 and 3 are more likely to respond to treatment, compared to genotype 1.

Liver Biopsy Test The liver biopsy test gauges a variety of important markers, such as:

  • Severity of the disease
  • Determination of the proper treatment
  • Effectiveness of the treatment
Hepatitis C infection is now treatable with the latest medication, with cure rates above 95%. Hepatitis C treatment can help avoid the development of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure.
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6 Napier Road, #10-01, Gleneagles Medical Centre, Singapore 258499

Tel: +65 6475 1488
Fax: +65 6475 1489
Email: info@liversurgery.com

Opening Hours Mon – Fri: 9am to 5pm
Sat: 9am to 12pm
Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays

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