HCV Labs

CMP – Complete Metabolic Panel:

Lab Name Abbreviation Reference Range Comments
Serum Creatinine SCr 0.8 – 1.2 mg/dL Measure of renal function;
increased SCr = decreased
renal function.
Used to calculate creatinine
clearance (CrCwhich is used to
adjust drug doses.
Aspartate AST 13 – 39 Units/L Increased when liver is
Aminotransferase damaged, cells leak out AST
into blood stream
Alanine ALT 7 – 52 Units/L Increased when liver is
Aminotransferase damaged, cells leak out ALT
into blood stream
Usually higher in Hep C
patients than AST
Total bilirubin T. Bili 0 – 1 mg/dL Breakdown of hemoglobin
“yellow”  excretes bilirubin
in bile
Liver dysfunction  bilirubin
not properly excreted
High levels  jaundice
Direct + indirect bilirubin =
Total Bili
Alkaline phosphatase ALP 25 – 125 units/L Enzyme made in liver cells and
bile ducts
High level = blockage of flow in
biliary tract
Alpha fetoprotein AFP <6.0 ng/mL Glycoprotein produced by
tumor; up to 70% of HCC cases
have increased AFP
Albumin Albumin 3.5 – 5 gm/dL Protein made by the liver,
prevents fluid from leaking out
of blood vessels into tissues
Low albumin  ascites (fluid
build up in belly)

CBC – Complete Blood Count:

Lab Name Abbreviation Reference Range Comments
White blood count WBC 3.6 – 10.6 k/cumm WBC’s are comprised of many
different cells.
This test is used to detect
presence of
infection/inflammation
Cirrhosis/alcoholism can
cause low WBC
Monitoring in pt’s on Ribavirin
Hemoglobin Hgb 6 – 20 gm/dL > 12 is normal for women
> 13 is normal for men
Used to assess for anemia,
tests the amount of red blood
cells in the body
Monitored in pt’s on Ribavirin
Hematocrit Hct 40 – 54 % Directly related to hemoglobin
levels
Also assess for anemia
Monitored in pt’s on Ribavirin
Platelets Plt Helps the blood form clots.
Often low in patients with
cirrhosis because the liver
makes platelets.
Thrombocytopenia is the term
for low plt count.
International INR 0.86 – 1.25 Measures how quickly blood
normalized ratio true normal = 1 forms a clot
If patient is on warfarin, the
normal range is 2-3.
Often elevated in pts with
cirrhosis because the liver
makes clotting factors

HCV Testing Labs:

Lab Name Abbreviation Reference Range Comments

Hepatitis C Antibody HepC Ab +/- First test done to assess HCV
status, if +  proceed to RNA
Hep C RNA HepC RNA Undetectable Assess the amount of virus in
the patients blood
Often will be repeated twice in
6 month period to make sure
patient doesn’t clear virus
Genotype GT 1-6 This is done to assess what
treatment the patient will be a
candidate for.