Express test for hepatitis
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Viral hepatitis is an infectious disease in which the inflammatory process caused by infectious agents spreads to the liver tissue. This disease is systemic, but mainly liver damage occurs. For timely adequate treatment, it is necessary to diagnose the disease on time, by passing the appropriate tests or by using the express test for hepatitis.
Acute viral hepatitis develops after penetration into the body of pathogenic viruses of several kinds: A, B, C, D, E, F and G. The most common viruses are types A, B and C.
This type of study is relatively affordable, as any patient can purchase an express test for hepatitis in pharmacies without a prescription.
[Indications for the procedure of the express test for hepatitis
Indications for the test are the following:
- blood transfusion from a donor in a patient's history;
- frequent change of sexual partners without using contraceptives;
- intravenous drug use;
- Doubt as the sterilization of the medical instruments used to intervene;
- blood transfusion in the period before 1992, 1945-1965. Birth (according to Western physicians regarding hepatitis C );
- preventive medical examination and infection screening.
Preparation
Preparation for the study consists in the cleanliness of the skin and the general satisfactory conditions of the test. The room temperature should not be below 10 ° or above 30 °. Also, you should make sure that enough time has passed since the time of possible infection, because it is impossible to detect the presence of an infection if the test is carried out prematurely. So, the incubation period of hepatitis types B and C can last up to six months.
Types of rapid tests for hepatitis
Due to the fact that there are several types of disease, there are rapid tests in several variations.
- Express test for hepatitis B
Using this test, the presence of HBsAg in the blood, blood plasma or serum is determined.
- Express test for hepatitis C
With the help of this test, the presence of antibodies to the hepatitis C virus in the blood, blood plasma or serum is determined.
- Multi-infection rapid test
The rapid test for HIV, hepatitis (C and B) and syphilis is a quick study, with which it is possible at home to determine the presence of several types of infections in the body.
Technique of the express test for hepatitis
Express test for hepatitis is fairly simple to use. Before carrying out the test, it is important to keep the test for a while at room temperature. After unpacking, all components of the test should be left on a flat surface. Immediately thereafter, the study itself is carried out, consisting in the following actions:
- Processing the place where the puncture will be made.
Wash your hands with soap and wipe your finger with a moistened wipe on the alcohol base that comes with the kit.
- Finger warm up before puncture.
- Finger puncture with the help of a scarifier.
The scanner must be clean to obtain a reliable result.
- Addition to the blood cell.
For the analysis, two drops of a blood sample are required.
- Adding a buffer solution to the cell.
To carry out the analysis, two drops of solution are required.
Normal performance
Approximately in 10-15 minutes you can evaluate the results of the study. After 25-30 minutes, the results may be distorted.
There are three options:
- Positive (likely to be infected with a virus, additional tests to be tested in the laboratory to check) is manifested through the manifestation of two bands in the test field
- Negative (in the patient's blood sample there are no antibodies to the virus) is manifested through the manifestation of one band in the test field
- Invalid (an undefined result, another test should be repeated) is manifested by the absence of strips in the test field or with other variations (for example, if a second band shows that there is a virus in the blood but no first band appears)
According to the doctors' testimonials, the rapid test for hepatitis in most cases (99%) shows a reliable result, but if the result is positive, repeated examinations in the medical institution are mandatory to confirm the diagnosis.
Reliability and accuracy of the rapid test for hepatitis
The reliability and accuracy of the rapid test for hepatitis depends on how well the study was conducted. It should be noted that any analysis can show a false positive result. Thus, when it comes to whether it is possible to believe express tests for hepatitis, it should be borne in mind that with a positive result of the analysis it is additionally recommended to undergo a similar study in the laboratory.