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.
Hepatitis C screening is important for three main reasons:
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.
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:
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:
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New DLS Group Office
We have opened a new administrative office to support our operations.
The address is:
545 Orchard Road
#10-09 Far East Shopping Centre
Singapore 238882
All medical services continue as usual at our four clinics.
Thank you!
Senior Consultant Surgeon
Senior Consultant Surgeon