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Hepatitis B and C tests are used for diagnosing contagious hepatitis A and B diseases. These diseases infect the liver, hence hepatitis B and C tests help diagnose liver health problems. Labwork360 provides hepatitis B and C tests in Houston and also mobile phlebotomy services for specimen collection. Different viruses cause hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections, hence hepatitis B and C tests are distinct from each other. Hepatitis infections can also be asymptomatic so hepatitis B and C tests are a frequent method for diagnosis.
Children and infants are more prone to developing long-lasting hepatitis B infections. Hepatitis B can be prevented through vaccination and most of the people who get vaccination attain immunity for life. The dosage of vaccination is generally 2, 3, or 4 injections. It is necessary for infants to get their first vaccination dose of hepatitis at birth and the cycle of vaccination is generally complete by 6 to 18 months of age.
Hep B and C testing uses blood samples and also provides information about whether the infection is chronic or acute. Moreover, hepatitis B and C tests also determine the state of immunity of an individual against these infections.
In the situation of liver damage due to hepatitis, transient elastography is used to show the extent of damage to the liver.
Different blood tests for hepatitis B and C tests determine the state and stage of infection as well as immunity against it.
Hepatitis B and C tests are often prescribed to pregnant women as these infections may transfer to the unborn child. However, the risk of transfer of hepatitis C to the child from the mother is low, nevertheless, testing is done to prevent the risk.
Hepatitis infections are caused by viruses and are contagious. This means they may spread to unvaccinated individuals through blood transfusion, sharing of equipment, or from mother to unborn child. On-time diagnosis of hepatitis is possible with hepatitis B and C tests. Hepatitis B and C test only analyze blood specimens so they are convenient to get and have a very low risk of side effects. Moreover, hepatitis B and C tests only check blood specimens so you can also order these tests at your home and get these tests without visiting the lab. Getting hepatitis B and C tests in Houston is easily possible as you can also order at-home sample collection/mobile phlebotomy services from Labwork360’s centers.
Hepatitis B is inflammation of the liver. Both hepatitis B and hepatitis C are contagious so they can infect people via bodily fluids such as semen and blood. Moreover, they can also pass from mother to infant during birth.
The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes hepatitis C infection. The main cause of hepatitis C is sharing of equipment and needles and other drug-injecting equipment. Hepatitis C infection becomes a chronic infection for more than half of the patients. However, the risk of transfer of this infection from mother to infant is low, about 2 to 8% if the mother has the infection.
Long-term hepatitis C can cause chronic health problems such as liver cancer and cirrhosis.
Hepatitis C is most common in individuals in the 20 to 39 years age group, whereas hepatitis B is more common in 30 to 49 years old individuals. Hepatitis B and C spread when blood from an infected individual enters the body of an uninfected individual. Moreover, these infections transfer from the infected mother to the newborn child.
As hepatitis B and C infections often do not show any signs for years while they can still harm the liver, having the hep B and hep C tests is important to have a timely diagnosis and early treatment. Moreover, hepatitis B and C tests can prevent further liver problems such as liver cancer and cirrhosis. Hepatitis vaccination is an important vaccination tool.
In addition to people having signs of hepatitis infection, the following individuals must also get Hep B and C testing:
Unvaccinated adults
Healthcare workers who treat hepatitis patients
Pregnant women must get hepatitis tests as these infections can pass on to the infant during delivery
Healthcare practitioners prescribe hepatitis B screening for individuals having specific medical conditions treated through immunosuppressive medications. These treatments can make dormant hepatitis B active again. Moreover, individuals with inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, or rheumatoid arthritis need to get hepatitis B tests before taking immunosuppressive medications.
Hepatitis C testing is also necessary for the following individuals:
Those having HIV infection
Those who have had abnormal results from blood tests for liver enzymes
Liver disease patients
Pregnant women having symptoms of HCV infection
Users of intravenous drugs
People with long-term dialysis treatment
The main difference between hepatitis B and hepatitis C is in their mode of transmission. Hepatitis B transfers through contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. In contrast, hepatitis C generally transfers through blood, such as via blood transfusions.
Hepatitis B is generally more contagious and virulent than hepatitis C infection. The more prevalent infection is also hepatitis B and it leads to more liver cancer cases than hepatitis C. More complications of the liver also occur in individuals with hepatitis B compared to those having other types of hepatitis infections.
HBV infections are more common among individuals in the 40 to 49 age range in the USA. The reason for this is low hepatitis B vaccination among adults in the USA. The most significant risk factor among individuals with new HBV infection is an injection of drugs, which is associated with the opioid crisis.
Hepatitis infections can also be asymptomatic, so hepatitis B and C tests help accurately diagnose them. There is not any cure of hepatitis B. However, as much as 9 out of 10 adults recover from the hepatitis B infection completely. Still, about 1 in 20 hepatitis B patients become carriers of this infection, which means they have a long-lasting infection of hepatitis B.
Drug users who share needles and injections are at a higher risk of hepatitis C as it mainly spreads through the mixing of blood that contains its virus. Moreover, having blood transfusions before the enactment of safety guidelines increases the risk of infection too.
Hepatitis B and C tests’ testing procedure is simple for the person getting the tests. A two-step simple blood test is used to screen for hepatitis C. The first step in the process is blood testing to detect the presence of antibodies formed against hepatitis C infection. The presence of antibodies shows that the individual is infected with hepatitis C. If the diagnosis from the first test is positive, the next tests are used to detect the virus in the same blood samples. A positive result shows a current infection.
Hepatitis B and C tests in Houston are easily available at Labwork360. Labwork360 provides secure and reliable medical diagnostic tests across all specialties of healthcare. Our lab is fully licensed and maintains standard equipment for conducting all diagnostic tests. We also provide mobile phlebotomy service so if you are unable to visit the lab to get diagnostic tests, contact us for at-home sample collection to get hepatitis B and C tests in Houston. If you have any queries about diagnostic tests, we are available to answer them on our helpline.
Yes, hepatitis B and C vaccinations are safe and effective.
Hepatitis B and C are contagious infections. They can also spread through sharing of nail clippers, razors, toothbrushes, and blood transfusions.
Hepatitis B virus can be visible in tests from 1 week to 9 weeks after the infection.
Hepatitis B and C tests use blood specimens for diagnosing these infections.
The Hepatitis B test does not require specific preparation.