Tests for viral hepatitis

Lots of people will have tests for viral hepatitis. This might be because you could have one of the conditions. Or you might be having tests for other liver conditions and have tests for viral hepatitis just to rule it out.

The tests are usually blood tests. You might have more than one test. But they can often be done with the same samples. In some cases you might be able to have a rapid test, where you get the results in a few hours.

If you have been diagnosed with viral hepatitis you might have other tests to find out more. Or to check how you are getting on. You can find out more about these tests on the page for that type of viral hepatitis.

This page will give you basic information on the different types of tests for viral hepatitis. You might not have all these tests.

You can find out more detail about the tests for each type of viral hepatitis on its condition page.

If you live in England and you may be at risk from hepatitis C you can get a free home test kit. Find out more here.

On this page

Antigen tests | Antibody tests | DNA, RNA and PCR tests

Antigen tests

Cartoon image shows a virus. It is a ball with blunt spikes sticking out of the surface. The spikes are labelled as antigens

Antigen tests

The hepatitis viruses carry markers called antigens. The different viruses have different antigens.

These antigens can be on the outside of the virus (surface or envelope antigens). Or inside the virus (core antigens).

For some types of viral hepatitis you will have tests that look for these antigens in your blood.

Antibody tests

Cartoon showing a virus and antibodies. The virus is a ball with blunt spikes representing antigens on the surface. The Antibodies are Y shapes. Some of the antibodies are stuck to antigens by one of the short arms of the Y.

Antibody tests

The main aim of your immune system is to find and kill things in your body that should not be there.

If your immune system finds an antigen that is not from your own body it will start to make antibodies. These antibodies stick to the virus antigen and act like a red flag. They call in other parts of your immune system to get rid of the virus.

It can take around two weeks for your body to make enough antibodies for the test to find. So antibody tests do not work well if you have only just picked up the virus.

If you get rid of the hepatitis virus, you will still have antibodies in your blood. They are there to keep a look out in case the virus comes back again.

For some types of hepatitis this means that an antibody test can be positive even if the virus has gone. For other types of hepatitis the antibodies change after the virus has gone. So they will no longer show up on the test. You can find out more about antibody tests for each type of viral hepatitis on its condition page [link hep landing].

If you are immunosuppressed and your immune system is not working properly you might not make antibodies. In this case the antibody test will not work and you should have a different type of test instead. Usually an RNA or DNA test.

DNA, RNA and PCR testing

Cartoon showing a virus. The virus is a ball with blunted spikes on the surface. Inside the virus are some twisted lines. These are labelled as virus DNA or RNA.

DNA, RNA and PCR tests

All viruses contain some genetic material. This is either called DNA or RNA. This genetic material is a set of instructions used to make more viruses.

You might have a test that looks for viral DNA or RNA in your blood. These tests are sometimes called PCR tests because a PCR machine is used to test the samples. PCR stands for polymerase chain reaction.

Virus DNA or RNA will only be in your blood if the virus is there. And it is actively making copies of itself.

If you have got rid of the virus, or if it is well controlled and not making new copies, then this test will be negative.