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Screening and diagnosis
A blood test can determine whether you have hepatitis C. If
test results indicate that you have HCV, your doctor may
measure the quantity of the virus in your blood (viral load)
and evaluate the genetic makeup of the virus (genotype). There
are six known HCV genotypes. Knowing which genotype you have
will help your doctor determine the best course of treatment
for you and how likely you are to respond to treatment.
Your doctor may also recommend a liver biopsy, a procedure in
which a small sample of liver tissue is removed for
microscopic analysis. Before the biopsy, you'll receive a
local anesthetic to decrease the pain. Your doctor then
inserts a thin needle into your liver to remove the tissue
sample. Liver biopsy is unlikely to have any complications,
although you may have some pain or bleeding afterward. Rarely,
significant bleeding can occur.
Although a biopsy isn't necessary to confirm a diagnosis of
hepatitis C, it can help determine the severity of the disease
and guide treatment decisions. It may also help rule out other
causes for your liver problem, such as alcoholic or
drug-induced hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis or excess iron
(hereditary hemochromatosis).
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