Levels fluctuate in the blood and do not correlate with severety of symptoms . It is recommended that patients take into account their own assessment of symptomology and severity and do not rely on these tests for convelesence or absolute trust in these tests. This test can detect activally replicating HCV cells but is not sensitive enough to determine viral loads if the cell count is under a certain number. Alkaline phosphatase Used to detect obstruction of the biliary system, a problem sometimes related with progressive disease. Levels also increased in gallstone disease, excessive alcohol intake and drug-induced hepatitis.
Normal levels vary from lab to lab.
Tests for presence of virus in the blood - used mainly as a 'quick' estimate of levels of virus. With liver damage, it may fail to produce blood clotting factors. Biopsy - The most specific to determine type of disfunction, condition of liver, level of disease process, cirrhosis, fibrosis, fatty liver, cancer. The ultrasound and biopsy are done maybe once every one to two years depending on the level of disease activity or to define non-specific symptoms. Non-routine blood tests are done when autoimmune hep is suspected.