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. Numerous tests are available to determine the amount of HCV RNA in a person's bloodstream. These tests are referred to as molecular tests because they examine the virus at the molecular level. Just one negative test for RNA doesn't imply that there's no infection because the virus might appear in the blood intermittently or might exist in small amounts.
Testing for RNA is useful in determining whether or not a patient has circulating virus in the blood (viremia). Hence, it can be used to confirm that a positive EIA/ELISA truly reflects active HCV infection. RNA testing also should be done in individuals who may have been recently exposed to HCV. HCV RNA testing is much more sensitive than the standard EIA testing in this setting. The reason for this higher sensitivity is that it might take somebody many weeks after exposure to HCV to build up the antibodies, whereas HCV RNA becomes detectable 1 to 3 weeks after exposure. Lastly, HCV RNA testing may be helpful to assess a patient's reaction to treatment at certain time points during antiviral therapy.
Blood tests as hepatitis C testing Los Angeles also have been developed to identify the HCV genotype. Blood tests can inform the clinician whether HCV is present but cannot tell the level of liver damage that has transpired. Liver biopsy enables the clinician to determine how much inflammation and scarring is present by examining a small sample of liver tissue. Liver biopsy provides information useful in the decision to start therapy. Considerable liver damage is a risk factor for other conditions like hepatocellular carcinoma and esophageal varices. Liver biopsy may be recommended when the clinician is unsure about whether to begin treatment or wishes to monitor the response 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. Numerous tests are available to determine the amount of HCV RNA in a person's bloodstream. These tests are referred to as molecular tests because they examine the virus at the molecular level. Just one negative test for RNA doesn't imply that there's no infection because the virus might appear in the blood intermittently or might exist in small amounts.
Testing for RNA is useful in determining whether or not a patient has circulating virus in the blood (viremia). Hence, it can be used to confirm that a positive EIA/ELISA truly reflects active HCV infection. RNA testing also should be done in individuals who may have been recently exposed to HCV. HCV RNA testing is much more sensitive than the standard EIA testing in this setting. The reason for this higher sensitivity is that it might take somebody many weeks after exposure to HCV to build up the antibodies, whereas HCV RNA becomes detectable 1 to 3 weeks after exposure. Lastly, HCV RNA testing may be helpful to assess a patient's reaction to treatment at certain time points during antiviral therapy.
Blood tests as hepatitis C testing Los Angeles also have been developed to identify the HCV genotype. Blood tests can inform the clinician whether HCV is present but cannot tell the level of liver damage that has transpired. Liver biopsy enables the clinician to determine how much inflammation and scarring is present by examining a small sample of liver tissue. Liver biopsy provides information useful in the decision to start therapy. Considerable liver damage is a risk factor for other conditions like hepatocellular carcinoma and esophageal varices. Liver biopsy may be recommended when the clinician is unsure about whether to begin treatment or wishes to monitor the response within the liver to therapy.
About the Author:
Technology benefits everyone. Hepatitis Testing Los Angeles utilizes this to obtain the most precise outcomes in 24 hours. Make the most of Hepatitis C Testing Los Angeles.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire