Diagnosis

Hepatitis D

Infection with hepatitis B and D is detected by a blood test that looks for antigens and antibodies.
An antigen is a foreign or invading protein substance that enters the body. Your immune system defends against antigens by producing its own special proteins that bind to these invaders to destroy them. These are called antibodies, also known as immunoglobulin.

The antibody and antigen test can have several results, each of which provides different information about the nature of your infection. It can indicate whether you have a new infection, whether it is likely to go away by itself or to become chronic.

Doctors will also carry out a number of separate examinations that look at different properties of
your blood. These are known as liver function tests (LFTs) and are used to find out how much
your liver is inflamed or damaged in its ability to function properly.

A liver biopsy may also be needed to determine the extent of any scarring (fibrosis) or cirrhosis in
your liver. In this procedure a fine hollow needle is passed through the skin into the liver so that a tiny sample of tissue can be withdrawn and taken away for study under a microscope.

This is usually done under local anaesthetic and may mean an overnight stay in hospital, although some people may be allowed home later the same day.

Hepatitis E

Symptoms of hepatitis E are non-specific, meaning they can be caused by a range of conditions. Initially mmedical staff may have to rule out other forms of hepatitis, although if you have travelled to areas where hepatitis E is common or where there has been a recent epidemic, suspicion of hepatitis E will be raised. The blood test for antibodies should distinguish your infection from hepatitis A or B.

Pregnant women diagnosed with hepatitis E are advised to see a specialist urgently.