Transmission Transmission occurs primarily via contact with infected blood. The diagnosis of hepatitis C infection is made by a blood test. There are two types of blood tests. One test determines the presence of antibody to the virus. The second tests for the actual presence of the virus and its concentration in the blood.
Liver biopsy is done to establish the degree of liver tissue damage.
Physicians who generally manage patients with hepatitis C are liver specialists, commonly called gastroenterologists. Critical to living with hepatitis C is the abstinence from alcohol and street drugs. As a general rule, anti viral treatment regimens for hepatitis C are not offered to patients who continue to use alcohol or drugs. Because some over the counter and prescription drugs are metabolized by the liver, it is important for patients to always discuss with their physician medications they may have been prescribed by other physicians or over the counter drugs they may be taking. Side effects of the drugs are significant and may interfere with the patient s ability to work.