Finding out about hep C will help you plan for the future. Our Hep C Action Newsletter Program can help guide you through testing and treatment.
How Is My Liver Health Tested?
Your healthcare provider may continue to perform a variety of tests to see how well your liver is functioning. Frequently, a blood test is used to measure alanine aminotransferase (ALT), an enzyme that is normally found in the liver cells and in the blood. An increase in ALT levels may indicate liver damage. However, a single ALT test will not reveal the severity of liver damage, and many people with chronic hep C do not have elevated ALT levels.
Though more expensive and invasive, a liver biopsy is the best way to measure the extent of liver damage. This is a procedure in which a tiny sample of tissue from the liver is removed and examined in a laboratory. Liver biopsies are also important in ruling out any other forms of liver disease.
To track the progression of the disease, your doctor may perform a liver biopsy every few years. A liver biopsy is an essential tool in monitoring chronic hep C infection.
