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Hepatitis B in Asian and Pacific Islanders:
Steps Towards Cultural
Competency
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Module 1: Overview
A variety of different tests are used to diagnose hepatitis C and to gauge disease progression. These include tests to determine whether a person has been exposed to HCV (antibody tests), whether they have active HCV infection (viral load tests), and what type of HCV they have (genotype tests). HCV is a single-stranded RNA virus that was identified in 1989. HCV has six major genetic variants known as genotypes; genotypes la and 1b are most common in the U.S. and are most difficult to treat. Several tests are done in HCV-positive people to measure the health of the liver. They are commonly called liver or enzyme/function tests and they measure the levels of enzymes and other chemicals in the blood. The most useful liver enzyme/function test measure alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level. A liver biopsy is used to determine the extent of liver damage; in a biopsy, a small sample of liver tissue is removed with a needle and examined under a microscope. Imaging tests such as ultrasound and CT scans can show the general size and structure of the liver. Viral load tests, genotype tests, liver enzyme/function tests, and liver biopsies are all used to help guide HCV treatment. Because normal value ranges and test results can vary from lab to lab, it is recommended that the same laboratory be used consistently so that results can be compared over time.
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