What Are The Tests?
There are various tests physicians use to diagnose HCV. The major ones are:
EIA Testing: The initial test is the EIA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), an anti-HCV. This test occasionally has a false positive. Positive results are usually followed with a more expensive, more accurate test.
RIBA Testing: A more sensitive test is RIBA (recombinant immunoblot assay) anti-HCV and can identify false positive results.
HCV-RNA Testing: An even more sensitive test than either the EIA and RIBA. It is a RT-PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test. HCV-RNA (RT-PCR) tests are either Qualitative or Quantitative.
Liver Function Tests: In the past, physicians used liver enzyme tests to potentially diagnose and determine the severity of this disease. However, according to the Canadian Hepatitis Information Network, "The investigators concluded that the majority of their viremic HCV-infected patients with persistently normal aminotransferase values had chronic active hepatitis, and approximately 20% of these patients had extensive fibrosis or cirrhosis." There is a large body of knowledge that support this theory; although the current recommended disease management of HCV still recommends this less expensive test to determine progress.
Liver Biopsy: The Canadian Hepatitis Information Network says a liver biopsy is currently the most accurate way of determining activity of disease, extent of fibrosis and assessing prognosis. About 5-10% of the time, the liver biopsy underestimates the amount of inflammation or scar tissue. Less than 1% of the time the liver biopsy overestimates the amount of damage to the liver.
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