Numerous Diagnostic Tests For Hepatitis C Testing Los Angeles
By Lauren G. Laurence
At hepatitis C testing Los Angeles there are several diagnostic tests which are currently available for the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. They could be categorized according to the way the tests are utilized. Screening tests are tests that are used to diagnose a condition or disease among people not known to have the disease. They're particularly useful for individuals who have risk factors for the condition or disease.
The initial step in screening for HCV infection is to test blood for the antibody to HCV utilizing an enzyme immuno-assays (EIAs). If the EIA test is negative (does not find the antibody), the patient is assumed to be free of HCV. It takes many weeks up to 6 months for antibodies to build up after the initial infection with HCV, so this screening test might miss a couple of newly-infected people. The EIA screening tests are very specific; if the test is positive the probability of having HCV infection is greater than 99%.
Recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA)is employed to verify the positive results of EIAs since at times a positive EIA is a false positive, that is, the test is positive when HCV isn't present. Even though the direct detection of HCV RNA (HCV PCR) is also widely used to verify the HCV infection, RIBA is still useful to distinguish false positive results in the few people whose immune systems have eradicated the virus but still have antibodies left over from the resolved infection. Several tests are available to measure the amount of HCV RNA in a person's blood. These tests are referred to as molecular tests because they examine the virus at the molecular level. A single negative test for RNA does not mean that there is no infection because the virus may appear in the blood intermittently or may exist in small amounts.
Testing for RNA is useful in figuring out whether or not a patient has circulating virus in the bloodstream (viremia). Therefore, it can be utilized to verify that a positive EIA/ELISA really reflects active HCV infection. RNA testing also should be done in individuals who may have been recently exposed to HCV. HCV RNA testing is more sensitive than the conventional EIA testing in this setting. The reason for this greater sensitivity is that it may take a person several weeks after exposure to HCV to develop the antibodies, whereas HCV RNA becomes detectable one to three weeks after exposure. Finally, HCV RNA testing could be helpful to assess a patient's reaction to treatment at particular time points in the course of antiviral therapy.
Blood tests as hepatitis C testing Los Angeles also have been developed to find out the HCV genotype. Blood tests can inform the clinician whether HCV is present but cannot tell the level of liver damage that has occurred. Liver biopsy allows the clinician to determine how much inflammation and scarring is present by analyzing a small sample of liver tissue. Liver biopsy gives information useful in the decision to start therapy. Substantial liver damage is a risk factor for other conditions such as hepatocellular carcinoma and esophageal varices. Liver biopsy might be recommended when the clinician is unsure about whether to start treatment or wishes to monitor the reaction within the liver to therapy.
The initial step in screening for HCV infection is to test blood for the antibody to HCV utilizing an enzyme immuno-assays (EIAs). If the EIA test is negative (does not find the antibody), the patient is assumed to be free of HCV. It takes many weeks up to 6 months for antibodies to build up after the initial infection with HCV, so this screening test might miss a couple of newly-infected people. The EIA screening tests are very specific; if the test is positive the probability of having HCV infection is greater than 99%.
Recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA)is employed to verify the positive results of EIAs since at times a positive EIA is a false positive, that is, the test is positive when HCV isn't present. Even though the direct detection of HCV RNA (HCV PCR) is also widely used to verify the HCV infection, RIBA is still useful to distinguish false positive results in the few people whose immune systems have eradicated the virus but still have antibodies left over from the resolved infection. Several tests are available to measure the amount of HCV RNA in a person's blood. These tests are referred to as molecular tests because they examine the virus at the molecular level. A single negative test for RNA does not mean that there is no infection because the virus may appear in the blood intermittently or may exist in small amounts.
Testing for RNA is useful in figuring out whether or not a patient has circulating virus in the bloodstream (viremia). Therefore, it can be utilized to verify that a positive EIA/ELISA really reflects active HCV infection. RNA testing also should be done in individuals who may have been recently exposed to HCV. HCV RNA testing is more sensitive than the conventional EIA testing in this setting. The reason for this greater sensitivity is that it may take a person several weeks after exposure to HCV to develop the antibodies, whereas HCV RNA becomes detectable one to three weeks after exposure. Finally, HCV RNA testing could be helpful to assess a patient's reaction to treatment at particular time points in the course of antiviral therapy.
Blood tests as hepatitis C testing Los Angeles also have been developed to find out the HCV genotype. Blood tests can inform the clinician whether HCV is present but cannot tell the level of liver damage that has occurred. Liver biopsy allows the clinician to determine how much inflammation and scarring is present by analyzing a small sample of liver tissue. Liver biopsy gives information useful in the decision to start therapy. Substantial liver damage is a risk factor for other conditions such as hepatocellular carcinoma and esophageal varices. Liver biopsy might be recommended when the clinician is unsure about whether to start treatment or wishes to monitor the reaction within the liver to therapy.
About the Author:
Technology benefits everyone. Hepatitis Testing Los Angeles utilizes this to obtain the most precise results in 24 hours. Take advantage of Hepatitis C Testing Los Angeles.
By Lauren G. Laurence
At hepatitis C testing Los Angeles there are several diagnostic tests which are currently available for the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. They could be categorized according to the way the tests are utilized. Screening tests are tests that are used to diagnose a condition or disease among people not known to have the disease. They're particularly useful for individuals who have risk factors for the condition or disease.
The initial step in screening for HCV infection is to test blood for the antibody to HCV utilizing an enzyme immuno-assays (EIAs). If the EIA test is negative (does not find the antibody), the patient is assumed to be free of HCV. It takes many weeks up to 6 months for antibodies to build up after the initial infection with HCV, so this screening test might miss a couple of newly-infected people. The EIA screening tests are very specific; if the test is positive the probability of having HCV infection is greater than 99%.
Recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA)is employed to verify the positive results of EIAs since at times a positive EIA is a false positive, that is, the test is positive when HCV isn't present. Even though the direct detection of HCV RNA (HCV PCR) is also widely used to verify the HCV infection, RIBA is still useful to distinguish false positive results in the few people whose immune systems have eradicated the virus but still have antibodies left over from the resolved infection. Several tests are available to measure the amount of HCV RNA in a person's blood. These tests are referred to as molecular tests because they examine the virus at the molecular level. A single negative test for RNA does not mean that there is no infection because the virus may appear in the blood intermittently or may exist in small amounts.
Testing for RNA is useful in figuring out whether or not a patient has circulating virus in the bloodstream (viremia). Therefore, it can be utilized to verify that a positive EIA/ELISA really reflects active HCV infection. RNA testing also should be done in individuals who may have been recently exposed to HCV. HCV RNA testing is more sensitive than the conventional EIA testing in this setting. The reason for this greater sensitivity is that it may take a person several weeks after exposure to HCV to develop the antibodies, whereas HCV RNA becomes detectable one to three weeks after exposure. Finally, HCV RNA testing could be helpful to assess a patient's reaction to treatment at particular time points in the course of antiviral therapy.
Blood tests as hepatitis C testing Los Angeles also have been developed to find out the HCV genotype. Blood tests can inform the clinician whether HCV is present but cannot tell the level of liver damage that has occurred. Liver biopsy allows the clinician to determine how much inflammation and scarring is present by analyzing a small sample of liver tissue. Liver biopsy gives information useful in the decision to start therapy. Substantial liver damage is a risk factor for other conditions such as hepatocellular carcinoma and esophageal varices. Liver biopsy might be recommended when the clinician is unsure about whether to start treatment or wishes to monitor the reaction within the liver to therapy.
The initial step in screening for HCV infection is to test blood for the antibody to HCV utilizing an enzyme immuno-assays (EIAs). If the EIA test is negative (does not find the antibody), the patient is assumed to be free of HCV. It takes many weeks up to 6 months for antibodies to build up after the initial infection with HCV, so this screening test might miss a couple of newly-infected people. The EIA screening tests are very specific; if the test is positive the probability of having HCV infection is greater than 99%.
Recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA)is employed to verify the positive results of EIAs since at times a positive EIA is a false positive, that is, the test is positive when HCV isn't present. Even though the direct detection of HCV RNA (HCV PCR) is also widely used to verify the HCV infection, RIBA is still useful to distinguish false positive results in the few people whose immune systems have eradicated the virus but still have antibodies left over from the resolved infection. Several tests are available to measure the amount of HCV RNA in a person's blood. These tests are referred to as molecular tests because they examine the virus at the molecular level. A single negative test for RNA does not mean that there is no infection because the virus may appear in the blood intermittently or may exist in small amounts.
Testing for RNA is useful in figuring out whether or not a patient has circulating virus in the bloodstream (viremia). Therefore, it can be utilized to verify that a positive EIA/ELISA really reflects active HCV infection. RNA testing also should be done in individuals who may have been recently exposed to HCV. HCV RNA testing is more sensitive than the conventional EIA testing in this setting. The reason for this greater sensitivity is that it may take a person several weeks after exposure to HCV to develop the antibodies, whereas HCV RNA becomes detectable one to three weeks after exposure. Finally, HCV RNA testing could be helpful to assess a patient's reaction to treatment at particular time points in the course of antiviral therapy.
Blood tests as hepatitis C testing Los Angeles also have been developed to find out the HCV genotype. Blood tests can inform the clinician whether HCV is present but cannot tell the level of liver damage that has occurred. Liver biopsy allows the clinician to determine how much inflammation and scarring is present by analyzing a small sample of liver tissue. Liver biopsy gives information useful in the decision to start therapy. Substantial liver damage is a risk factor for other conditions such as hepatocellular carcinoma and esophageal varices. Liver biopsy might be recommended when the clinician is unsure about whether to start treatment or wishes to monitor the reaction within the liver to therapy.
About the Author:
Technology benefits everyone. Hepatitis Testing Los Angeles utilizes this to obtain the most precise results in 24 hours. Take advantage of Hepatitis C Testing Los Angeles.
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