What Tests Help Detect Hepatitis-C?

Posted on Wed, 25 Nov 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 25 Nov 2015 Answered on

Wed, 16 Dec 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : yes, thank you, I think I have been exposed to Hep C inJuly of 2015, should I be concerned? How do I know, for sure and is it too soon to find out? I have been very tired at times and sleep for hours (about 24, sometimes) and am wondering if that has anything to do with that situation. or just that I have been traveling a lot this year.

Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You should go ahead and get tested, pls mention how you were exposed

Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. If the exposure was legitimate then there should be cause for concern ma'am. Hepatitis C can be tested using the HCV RNA test around 1-3 weeks after exposure, so you can go ahead with testing for Hep C as it has been more than 4 months since the exposure.

You can also go through the symptoms of Hep C for your reference:

+Fatigue
+Nausea
+Fever
+Poor appetite
+Dark colour urine
+Stomach pain
+Yellow discolouration of skin
+Muscle and joint aches
and a few others.

As for the exhaustion and lethargy that you are experiencing, it is not related to the infection, but if you are experiencing pains and aches and this is the reason why you are sleeping for longer durations then it is worth investigating. But the traveling could be causing jet lag thus resulting in the long naps also.

I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you.

Best wishes.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar