Hepatitis Screening Profile Test

The hepatitis screening is done to detect and diagnose an infection with a hepatitis virus. When there are symptoms of acute hepatitis and a viral infection is suspected to be the cause. There are three most common hepatitis viruses namely hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV) , hepatitis C(HCV). Hepatitis virus panel is a series of blood tests used to detect current or past infection of these 3 viruses. Such tests can screen blood samples for more than one kind of hepatitis virus at the same time. Antibody and Antigen tests can detect each of the different hepatitis viruses. Symptoms include fever, vomitingand abdominal pain, yellowing of skin, dark yellow urine and tiredness.

No special preparation is needed. It is however advisable to wear a T- shirt or short sleeved shirt to make things easier for the technician drawing blood. Any blood transfusion in past 3 months can affect the retic count therefore, information regarding the same should be given to the doctor.

These tests are used to- Detect current or previous hepatitis infection Determine how contagious a person with hepatitis is Monitor a person who is being treated for hepatitis The tests may be performed for other conditions such as- Chronic persistent hepatitis Hepatitis D Nephrotic Syndrome.

There are 2 kind of results- Normal results and Abnormal Results. The normal result means no hepatitis antibodies are found in the blood sample or has been vaccinated against hepatitis and is immune to future hepatitis infection. Abnormal sample means that there is currently a hepatitis infection and this may be either acute or chronic hepatitis. An acute hepatitis if left untreated might turn into chronic hepatitis. Antibodies to hepatitis C can most often be detected 4 to 10 weeks after you get the infection. Other types of tests may be done to decide on treatment and monitor the hepatitis C infection

Firstly, the skin is cleaned with antiseptic and a tourniquet is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and cause veins to swell with blood. A needle is inserted in the vein and blood is withdrawn and collected in a syringe. The blood the is saved in a vessel and sealed with your name. The sample is carried to the research laboratory for examination.