doctor today

More Information about Hepatitis Screening

At Doctor Today we offer a comprehensive set of tests for Hepatitis A, B and C to determine both active infection status (whether or not you are currently infected), as well as immune status (i.e. whether you are immune from infection - either from immunisation or past infection). We also offer viral load tests by PCR for patients undergoing Hepatitis C treatment.

The range of Hepatitis screens we offer is as follows:

Note these tests do not include the cost of a consultation, which is strongly recommended but is not mandatory; without consultation a £30 sample taking fee applies for blood tests.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A (fact sheet) is usually acquired by eating or drinking food contaminated with the virus which has been excreted in the faeces of an infected person or carrier but can also be transmitted by intravenous drug use and/or unsafe sex practices. This results in an acute liver infection which may cause jaundice and which may last from 3 weeks to 6 months (usually not more than 6 weeks), after which you are normally immune. Only a very few patients will suffer permanent liver damage, but it is obviously best to avoid infection where possible. The carrier state is extremely rare, unlike with other forms of hepatitis. Immunisation against Hepatitis A (vaccinations available at Doctor Today) is recommended for travel to all warm countries including Africa, Asia (except Japan), parts of the Caribbean, Central and South America, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and the Middle East. Travellers are also advised not to eat uncooked food or drink unsafe water. You can find out whether you are immune (from immunisation or past infection) or are currently infected with our Hepatitis A profile.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B (fact sheet) is generally the commonest and also most serious form of hepatitis. It is caused by contact with body fluids (blood, saliva, semen, vaginal secretions) containing the virus. It can cause an acute illness with liver upset (including jaundice) which usually settles in 6 months, but occasionally it results in serious liver damage (cirrhosis) or even death. Other patients go on to suffer from a long term infection (chronic hepatitis) which damages the liver over a period of years. Commonly patients may not know they are infected, but they are in a carrier state where their fluids contain the virus which may then infect others. The only way of detecting this is by blood test (HBsAg). There is no known cure for Hepatitis B, so immunisation (vaccinations available at Doctor Today) is advised for all at risk persons. Three "shots" are required for full immunity. Immune and infective status can be determined with our Hepatitis B profile.

Hepatitis C

With the increasing prevalence of Hepatitis B immunisations, Hepatitis C (fact sheet) is an upcoming infection which is causing worldwide concern because it can remain hidden for many years while still causing liver damage and remaining infective to others. It is spread mainly by transfer of blood from one individual to another, for example in blood transfusion, intravenous drug users, tattoos in unhygienic parlours, etc. Unsafe sex is not a common transmission mode as it is with Hepatitis B. Although there is no vaccination against Hepatitis C at the moment, viral clearance can be achieved in 50-80% of patients with specialist treatment (peg-interferon and ribavirin). We do not offer this treatment, but blood tests such as our Hepatitis C profile can tell if you are currently infected.

Please do not hesitate to email us at enquiries@doctortoday.co.uk or call us on 020 7433 1444 if you have any further questions or wish to make an appointment for a Hepatitis screen or immunisation.