Hepatitis C Antibodies Card Method Blood

This test is used to find out the Hepatitis C Antibodies IgM, IgG in the blood.

What is Hepatitis and Hepatitis C Antibodies:

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and can lead to scarring, cirrhosis or liver cancer. Hepatitis can be caused due to auto-immune diseases, alcohol or toxic substances. Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood to blood contact with someone infected with HCV.

Hepatitis C Antibodies are the antibodies produced by the immune system to fight the hepatitis C Antigens. Antibodies are the protective proteins produced by the immune system and also known as immunoglobulins. Antibodies are produced when any foreign substance or virus or bacteria enters into the body. These foreign substances are known as antigens. Antibodies recognize and attach to the antigens in order to remove them from the body. There are five (5) subtypes of antibodies and they are IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, IgE.

IgG provides long-term protection as it presents in the circulation for long period after the presence of an antigen. IgM enhances the ingestion of cells by phagocytosis. IgA is also the first defense for intestine, lungs, and nose. They bind antigens to the microbes before they invade tissues and keeps antigens in secretion and when secretion is expelled, antigens are also expelled. IgD helps in the induction of antibody production and presents on the surface of B-cells. IgE binds to the basophils and mast cells.

Why This test Is Performed:

This test is performed to check the presence of Hepatitis C Antibodies IgG in the blood. The doctor may ask you to undergo this test if you are suffering from symptoms and conditions such as liver cancer, cirrhosis, jaundice, fever, dark urine, abdominal pain, joint pain etc. If an individual is on the treatment for Hepatitis C virus HCV then the doctor may ask to perform this test to evaluate and to check the effectiveness of the treatment and Hepatitis C Antibodies IgG, IgM levels in the blood. Mostly, this test is done along with other hepatitis antibody tests to confirm the diagnosis. This test is also done to detect the past HCV infections and to determine if an individual has developed immunity for past HCV infections.

How Often This Test Should Be Performed:- This test should be done after 6-7 weeks of infection. If you have been diagnosed with HCV, your doctor may advise you to get this test done once in a year based on your clinical condition. If you are a healthy individual above the age of 35, your doctor may advise you to undergo this test either on a yearly basis or every other year.

Precautions:

Some medications may change the levels of antibodies in the blood and hence you are advised to inform all your current medications to the doctor prior to the test. Rheumatoid factor can give rise to false positive results.

Pathology test parameters:

Hepatitis C Antibodies Card Blood Test has the following components- Hepatitis C Antibodies IgM and Hepatitis C Antibodies IgG.

If the test results are negative, then the individual does not have hepatitis C Antibodies in the blood and no infection of Hepatitis C Virus HCV.

In case the test results are positive, then the individual may have Hepatitis C Antibodies IgM, IgG in the blood and there is an acute or remote infection of Hepatitis C Virus HCV.