Overview

Since many patients do not have symptoms from hepatitis C, diagnosis often occurs only after they are found to have abnormal liver enzymes during routine blood work, insurance physicals, or preoperative evaluations, for example. Patients may then be surprised by the diagnosis. Other patients may be tested because of specific risk factors, such as a remote history of blood transfusions or exposure to needles.

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The hepatitis C antibody is detected in almost all people infected with hepatitis C. However, because the antibody takes weeks to months to develop, tests can be falsely negative, especially just after exposure. If the hepatitis C antibody is positive, the actual presence of virus should be confirmed through a polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, test.

This section contains more information on:

PCR tests

Liver biopsy