Hepatitis C Health Center

It is often difficult to diagnose hepatitis C early because symptoms do not usually show up right away.

In order to find and treat hepatitis C early, it is important to be VERY honest with the doctor when discussing drug use and sexual practices. If the doctor feels the need, he or she may do blood tests and discover hepatitis C early enough to treat it.

Unfortunately, blood tests alone cannot show the exact extent of liver damage. A liver biopsy may be needed.

There are many different subtypes, technically known as genotypes of hepatitis C viruses. Blood tests can help find the exact genotype. This is important because the treatment, its duration and its efficacy vary from genotype to genotype.