Understanding Your Test Results

Since the majority of HCV patients are not medical experts, the need to figure out what all the tests mean is very important. Because we have the duty of being our own medical facilitator, we must learn as much as we can about our disease, our treatments and most importantly the tests given to us to determine our condition.

The first tests usually done are the blood tests. These can have terms like, liver function, liver enzymes, blood chemistry, electrolytes, lipids, protein, ratio's thyroid, differential, A/G ratio, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, AST/SGOT, ALT/SGPT and so on.

At first glance all these terms can be intimidating and very overwhelming.

Rather than try and list everything in detail, I will steer you to some great web pages for in-depth details on what your doctor uses to determine your liver functions.

For an excellent pages on lab tests go to:

http://hepatitis-central.com/hcv/labs/to...

http://hepatitis-central.com/hcv/hepatit...

http://home3.inet.tele.dk/omni/alttest.h...

http://www.ama-assn.org/insight/gen_hlth...

http://www.aceology.com/med/lab/cbc.htm

http://home.texoma.net/~moreland/tests/g...

For details on biopsy tests, results etc., go to:

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/hcv/bio...

Never let a doctor say that these tests are not important. Some physicians have stated that getting a viral load is unnecessary, but that is false. Some physicians say that getting treatment may not be important because you are not sick enough. That statement is false. Getting treatment sooner rather than later results in a better outcome in the long run.

If you ever feel you are not getting the best treatment, advice or consideration from your current health care provider, please seek a second opinion!

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