A physician can use different techniques regarding diagnosing a patient with a form of hepatitis. Blood tests are frequently used to identify what virus is in the body. However, the organ which is affected, the liver, can also be observed to make the diagnosis. 

 

In hepatitis A, a blood test is made for the diagnosis. This blood test is a serologic test. In this test, the serum, blood cells that aren’t red blood cells, nor clotting factors in the blood are being studied. These cells are antibodies in the blood. If there are antibodies (proteins) found in the blood of the patient, it will be known that the hepatitis virus A (HAV) is present in the environment as well. The body naturally reacts to the virus by producing these antibodies to fight off the infection, making the situation, relatively, not so dangerous for the patient. 

                                                               

If the antigen of HBsAg (=Hepatitis B surface Antigen) is found in the blood using a serologic test, it is known that the patient will have the virus of HBV and therefore the disease of hepatitis B. Furthermore, the amount of DNA inside the virus can determine the seriousness of the disease.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another important aspect of identifying and therefore diagnosing hepatitis

B is the presence of cirrhosis in the liver. This is a condition in which the

liver is damaged due to the HBV or HCV. In this condition, parts of the liver

tissue has become fibrotic which means that connective tissue of the liver

have become damaged and thicker by proteins that have connected closely

to the cells, making the liver surface rough and stiff as well. This will

eventually also cause scarring of parts of the liver surface. These scars and

thick liver tissue can be used to identify the cirrhosis. About 2 decades ago,

liver biopsy was used to observe if the patient has got HBV of HCV. In this

method, 1 puncture with a sharp sting was being used to pinch and take a

small part of the liver. This small part would be 1/50000 of the whole liver

surface. From this small part of the liver, the physicians would conclude if the

patient had the HBV or HCV or not. This, of course, is a very unreliable

technique, because a small part of the liver is observed. This small part

could be a healthy part of the liver, which could cause the physicians to make

a wrong conclusion. However, now, using a new method with the Fibroscan ®,

1/500 part of the liver can be observed using ultrasound waves. Using this

method, it is way more reliable to make a diagnosis. If the density of the liver

surface is more than 14,5 kPa, liver cirrhosis can be diagnosed and therefore

also the presence of a hepatitis B or C virus.

 

In diagnosing hepatitis C, the HCVRNA (Hepatitis C Virus RiboNuleic Acid) technique is used. This is a frequently used assurance test after antibodies for hepatitis C virus have been discovered. RNA of hepatitis C is found in molecules. Also, Using a serologic test, the genetic material of RNA of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be found. If it’s found, the diagnosis can be made. Furthermore, a blood test can also determine the kind of genotype from the hepatitis C virus. Each genotype of the virus can lead to different symptoms and needs different treatment. So, the physician needs to know the genotype of the virus to give the patient the best type of treatment there is available.

 

A serologic test is used in diagnosing hepatitis C. If the patient is positive to HBsAg, this type of hepatitis can be diagnosed. HBsAg stands for Hepatitis B surface Antigen which can be found in the blood of the patient. Just like in hepatitis C, the physician can offer the best treatment if the genotype fromthe virus of the type of hepatitis is known. In hepatitis D, the genome, all genetic information in a cell, including the genotype, can be deducted by the technique of RT-PCR (=reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction). Using this technique, copies of DNA-sequences can be copied quickly. In the process of this reaction, mRNA (=Messenger RNA), is read off from a single stranded mRNA template. Then, an enzyme called the reverse transcriptase converts this type of RNA into DNA by a process called reverse transcription. DNA is now formed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hepatitis E can be detected by signalling the Hepatitis E virus (HEV). The virus can be detected by detection 2 types of antibodies in the blood. These antibodies are IgM (=Immunoglobulin M) and IgG (=Immunoglobulin G). The antibodies are situated in the blood to detoxify and fight off the antigens of the virus.