Hepatitis C Antibody (HCV), Rapid Screening Test near me in Visakhapatnam
Understanding Hepatitis C Antibody (HCV), Rapid Screening Test in Visakhapatnam
What is Hepatitis C Antibody (HCV), Rapid Screening Test in Visakhapatnam?
The Hepatitis C Antibody (HCV), Rapid Screening Test test is a diagnostic test that detects the antibodies the body makes in response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. It is available at an affordable price in Visakhapatnam with Tata 1mg labs. HCV commonly infects the liver and may result in liver damage if not recognized or treated timely. This infection spreads when you come in contact with an infected person's blood, or body fluids. It can also spread through sexual contact, sharing needles, syringes, or any drug-injection equipment, or during childbirth from the mother to the baby.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends testing people at an increased risk of an HCV infection. Symptoms of a recent HCV infection include fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-colored stools, joint pain, and jaundice. If you have come in contact with an already infected person or show any of the above symptoms, get tested with a Hepatitis C Antibody (HCV), Rapid Screening Test test without any delay to prevent complications.
What does Hepatitis C Antibody (HCV), Rapid Screening Test measure?
An Hepatitis C Antibody (HCV), Rapid Screening Test test determines if HCV has infected you and helps your doctor guide your treatment. This is a rapid card based immunochromatographic test which is used for screening purposes only. A reactive result needs to be confirmed by other more specific NAT/ nucleic acid tests before final diagnosis.
HCV causes liver inflammation and is classified into acute hepatitis infection and chronic hepatitis infection.
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Acute hepatitis C: This occurs in the first six months after exposure to the hepatitis C virus. In the early stage of the infection, acute hepatitis C is mild and may cause no symptoms. For this reason, most people do not know they have this infection.
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Chronic hepatitis C: If your body cannot fight off the virus, you can develop a chronic hepatitis C infection. Progression from acute to chronic hepatitis C is common, occurring in 75-85% of patients. Detecting chronic hepatitis C early is important to prevent future complications, such as liver failure, and initiate effective treatment.