Blood Drug Testing

On an average blood test at a hospital would they test for Hepatitus C?

I'm sure they test for just about everything but I was wondering if a patient goes into the hospital and gets the average blood test done would the results include whether or not the patient has hepatitus C?

Public Comments

1. well no they dont, they test for what they think your diagnosis might be, the insurance wont pay for more.
2. Not if you ask them to test for hep-c.
3. if they were checking ur enzymes of the hepatic then find something anamolous then that merits reason to further reasearch what might be wrong and then check to see if u have hep...c or anything else that might b cuaseing the problem
4. An "average" blood test....what's that? The tests ordered depend on the admitting diagnoses (not a typo, this is plural for diagnosis) and what the admitting physician suspects or may wish to rule out. Hepatitis tests are very specific and test for antibodies to a specific hepatitis virus, like C, for example. Why would someone be randomly tested for hep C without a good reason? And, no, patients admitted are NOT tested for just about everything. Only for for everything relevant and relevance can change from one day to the next. A new admission will have a metabolic panel and CBC to establish a baseline. If the metabolic panel shows elevated liver enzymes and the CBC shows an elevated white count, the attending (admitting physician has already handed over care to the attending physician), after examing the patient, may wish to order more specific diagnostic tests including a liver ultrasound because the labs suggest active liver disease. The answer to your initial question is no. The answer to your second question is in my response.
5. nope- ask your doctor if you suspect you have been exposed.
6. No, unless the patient had certain symptoms or other test results pointed in that direction. HOWEVER, if the pt had ANOTHER type of Hep, certain lifestyle choices that put them at high risk (homlessness or IV drug use for example) or certain immune disorders such as HIV, the doc usually orders the whole panel for all the Heps. Usually the only tests ran when you are in a hospital are those related to your acute issue. For example, if you were having nasal allergy issues, but you were in the hospital for a heart attack (MI), the attack is what they would research/test for and treat. The doc might give the pt the usual allergy treatment, if it didn't interfere with the treatment for the heart attack, but he or she wouldn't order a skin prick test to find out what was causing your allergies. BTW, the "hospital" doesn't run tests without and order from the doctor, except in the case of a study being done, such as swabbing the nose upon admission to test for MRSA in the general population, but studies are usually explained and can be refused in some circumstances. If you are speaking about yourself, just ask your doc or go to the hospital and request a copy of your chart.
7. No, the test will only confirm if your alt and ast levels are elevated as well as other issues relative to hcv, but alt and ast levels are not always conclusive or pinpoint to hcv since many of us with hcv often are found to have normal enzymes (alt and ast). You have to have a direct test for HCV. Ask the doctor if your concerned! Good Luck
8. They wouldn't test for Hep C unless you specifically ask for a Hep C test.