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HCV Test – Hepatitis C Virus Testing, Symptoms, Normal Range and Cost
HCV Test and the Hepatitis C Virus: An overview.
Hepatitis C is a liver infection that is caused by the hepatitis C virus. The hepatitis C virus invades the liver cells, and causes liver swelling and dysfunction. According to experts, out of every 100 people who have been diagnosed with hepatitis C, 60 to 70 people will develop chronic liver disease, up to 20 people will get a dangerous scarring of the liver which is called cirrhosis, and 1 to 5 people will die from liver cancer or liver failure. Hepatitis C is a disease that has no vaccination available. HCV is a blood-to-blood infection, which means that a non-infected person can be infected with HCV if injected with contaminated blood. It can also be transmitted through use of drugs that are injected, resulting in crucial liver damage. HCV is a kind of viral liver infection and may occur as a sudden, severe onset or be a long-lasting condition. It is important to get an HCV Test done because hepatitis C virus is a tricky infection and you can feel fine yet be infected.
The HCV Test is a simple blood test. Also, Since HCV is an infectious disease, you might infect others in your family through simply sharing your toothbrushes, nail clippers, razors, diabetes supplies, needles that you might share for injecting steroids or drugs, or even tools for tattoos or body piercings. Although rare, you can even get it from having unprotected sex. If the HCV Test diagnoses that you to have HCV, then treatments can defeat the virus or even wipe it out completely. Hepatitis C treatment, which normally follows the HCV Test, includes a combination of medications called antivirals. The HCV Test and early diagnosis and treatment might even help in preventing liver cancer or liver failure. Therefore, it is imperative to get an HCV Test done and treated early on so that the hepatitis C virus can be terminated from activating cirrhosis or cancer.
What are the Symptoms of HCV (Hepatitis C Symptoms)?
There are no definitive Hepatitis C symptoms that can facilitate the diagnosis of HCV or indicate that an HCV Test is required. The time period between contacting the ailment and noticeable symptoms is anywhere between 4 and 15 weeks. A person with acute HCV will experience symptoms such as:
- Discomfort in the abdomen or stomach pain.
- Retaining fluid in the abdomen (ascites).
- Fever.
- Nausea.
- Poor appetite or an aversion to food.
- Fatigue.
- Frequent pain in the joints or muscles.
- Dark-colored urine.
- Clay-colored stools on rare occasions.
- Jaundice – (a yellow discoloration in the skin and eyes).
- Bleeding easily.
- Bruising easily.
- Itchy skin.
- Swelling in the legs.
- Weight loss.
- Drowsiness, confusion and unclear speech.
- Spider-like blood vessels on the skin.
Risk Factors of HCV
There are several factors that can contribute to the Hepatitis C condition, and ultimately warrant an HCV Test. Some of them are more common than others. In particular, the risk of hepatitis C infection is increased in a person if:
- The person is a healthcare worker who has been exposed to contaminated blood, which may happen if the skin is pierced with an HCV-infected needle.
- The person has been injected with and/or inhaled illicit drugs in the past.
The person has HIV. - The person has had a tattoo or piercing done in an unclean environment using unhygienic and non-sterile equipment.
- The person has received clotting factor concentrates, which are given to avoid bleeding and bleeding-related complications in people with hemophilia A or B, before 1987.
- The person has received hemodialysis treatments for a long period of time.
- The person was born to a woman with a hepatitis C infection, as since is a condition that can be passed on hereditarily.
- The person has received organ transplant or blood transfusion before 1992.
- The person was born between 1945 and 1965, which is the age group with the highest occurrence of hepatitis C infection.
- The person has been in prison (explain this a bit).
What is HCV Test?
HCV Test – also called the hepatitis C antibody test – is a blood test that is prescribed to confirm if a person has been infected with hepatitis C ever in his or her life. The hepatitis C antibody test, also known as Anti-HCV test, searches for antibodies to the hepatitis virus. It usually takes approximately a week to get results, although there also an option of a rapid test offered at some places.
What are the Types of HCV Tests Available?
HCV Tests cover a variety of tests, and include:
- Indirect tests which assess outcome or complications of Hepatitis C infection like liver function test, liver biopsy, abdomen ultrasound, MRI and CE MR abdomen, CECT abdomen, triphasic scan of liver, etc.
- Direct tests which include antibody tests such as Anti HCV test, Anti HCV IgA, Anti HCV IgG and Anti HCV IgM.
- Screening tests like HCV Tri-Dot.
- Confirmatory tests like RT-PCR which includes genotyping and quantitative tests.
HCV Test Range
Normal range: Not detected.
Quantitative range: 10 to 100, 000, 000 International Units per mL (1.0 to 8.0 log IU/mL)
Meaning of the HCV Test Results
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Negative or nonreactive –the person does not have Hepatitis C. It also means that if the person has been exposed to HCV in the last 6 months, he or she will need to be retested to make sure it has not resurfaced.
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Reactive or positive – the person has Hepatitis C antibodies and is infected. In this case, the person will have to undergo the RNA test, which stands for ribonucleic acid test, to confirm the result. This RNA test measures the number of viral RNA, which is the genetic material from the hepatitis virus, particles in the blood. It is also referred as the viral load by doctors. It usually takes 1-2 weeks after being infected for the RNA test to show on the test. If the RNA test is negative, it means the person does not have hepatitis C and if positive, he or she is infected.
How Much Does an HCV Test Cost?
House of Diagnostics offers affordable and quick HCV Test to ensure your preparedness against ailments and general well-being of your health. You can book a test for yourself – or someone else who needs help – in just a few clicks here.
Hepatitis Tests Available At House of Diagnostics (HOD).
