LetsGetChecked - Hepatitis B & C Blood Spot Test Kit
The LetsGetChecked - Hepatitis B & C Blood Spot Test Kit includes Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Get 25% off today with our exclusive discount code WALKINLAB.
Description
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a blood-borne virus caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B can be an acute or chronic illness. If left untreated, the virus can cause serious liver damage such as cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver failure or liver cancer. The LetsGetChecked test looks for the hepatitis B surface antigen which may indicate active or transmissible disease. This test will not identify a previous disease.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is generally asymptomatic so someone who has contracted the virus may not know that they have done so. In cases of chronic hepatitis C, people may develop cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). There are lots of very effective treatment options available which your physician can discuss with you. The LetsGetChecked test looks for antibodies to hepatitis C, which may indicate a current or previous disease.
Hepatitis B & C can cause serious liver disease and affect millions of people worldwide.
Many people with hepatitis B and C have no symptoms until the later stages. If you have symptoms of liver disease you should discuss these with your physician.
Symptoms of liver disease may include:
- Bleeding easily
- Bruising easily
- Fatigue
- Poor appetite
- Yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Dark-colored urine
- Itchy skin
- Fluid buildup in the abdomen (ascites)
- Swelling in the legs
- Weight loss
- Confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech (hepatic encephalopathy)
- Spider-like blood vessels on the skin (spider angiomas)
STDs can take a period of time to become detectable. This is called the window period. You should wait at least 12 weeks from the time of potential exposure to the disease before taking this test. In some cases, it may take 6 months for an infection to be detected.
You should also consider getting tested if:
- You have become sexually active
- You have had unprotected sex
- You are experiencing symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease
- You are entering into a new sexual relationship
- You have received a notification from a previous partner that they are infected
- You use needles that are shared with someone else
- The CDC recommends that everyone get tested at least once