1. Enzyme immunoassay test (EIA): This test has to be carried out in the initial stage.


2. Recombinant Immunoblot Assay (RIBA): This an additional test to support and confirm the diagnosis if the EIA is positive.

The quantitative tests to detect amount (titer) of virus (HCV RNA) are:
Amplicor HCV Monitor™
Quantiplex HCV RNA (bDNA)
It is important to note that the laboratory test as above may be false positive or false negative.

C. Genotype study:

The Hep C virus can have several variants, largely six of them, namely Genotype 1, Genotype 2, Genotype 3, Genotype 4, Genotype 5, and Genotype 6. There are also some subtypes such as 1a, 1b, etc. Patients from different countries have shown different types, which can be briefed as under:

Genotype distribution

No	Type	Genotype
1	North America, South America, Europe	1
2	North America, South America	2
3	India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt	3
4	Egypt	4
5	Central and South America	5
6	South-east Asia, Japan, China	6

What is Genotyping?

The patents often have this question. Genotyping is nothing but a specific arrangement of the genetic material of RNA in the virus, which has different possibilities, based on which the typing has been done.

D. Other blood tests:

A complete blood profile is which also consist of the white, red cell and platelet count, hemoglobin count is done. Also, the blood levels of certain liver enzymes such as Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and SGOT has to be carried out routinely.

E. Liver biopsy:

Biopsy of liver tissues is not done routinely. It is required to be done to evaluate the scarring (cirrhosis) and cancer of liver. Liver biopsy gives an idea about the extent and severity of fibrosis and cirrhosis.

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