You may know hepatitis B and C (HBV and HCV) are serious viral infections that can damage the liver and lead to liver cancer.
But did you know that most people with HBV and HCV aren’t aware that they are infected?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only 11% of all people estimated to have HBV know their status. For HCV, it's estimated that 1 in 5 people with HCV are aware of the infection.
Because so many living with chronic HBV and HCV show so few signs of infection, these conditions may go unnoticed for decades, often until permanent damage has been done to the liver.
How can you detect viruses that rarely, outwardly show their faces?
It all starts with diagnostic tools that pinpoint the infections.
Fighting Silent Killers
Hepatitis B and C are far more common than many people think. Around the world, approximately 296 million people are living with chronic HBV infection and 58 million people are living with chronic HCV infection. The burden of HBV infection is highest in the Western Pacific and Africa regions, where 116 million and 81 million people, respectively, are chronically infected. A significant number of those will develop chronic liver damage (also called cirrhosis) or potentially liver cancer.
There is good news.
Making the WHO 2030 Goal Possible
Combining testing and treatment efforts to combat hepatitis makes ending the epidemic feasible:
"We're constantly searching for new ways to help improve the tests available to diagnose people living with viral hepatitis. Part of that process involves studying the barriers to access testing that hinders eliminating the epidemic," said Gavin Cloherty, Ph.D., head of infectious disease research at Abbott and the Pandemic Defense Coalition.
Our Arsenal of Diagnostic Tools for Eliminating the Epidemic
Chronic HBV infection is diagnosed when the hepatitis B surface antigen, HBsAg, is persistent for at least six months. The persistence of HBsAg suggests there’s a risk for developing chronic liver disease and liver cancer later in life.
Diagnosing and treating hepatitis C infection can require several diagnostic tests:
Abbott has a range of hepatitis tests that can be used in several different settings – from remote areas in Africa to managing treatments in large cities in the U.S. and Europe. In 2019, we received CE Mark for the world’s most sensitive and easy-to-use hepatitis B rapid diagnostic test. We also have a hepatitis C rapid test that can be used as a screening tool to identify people who have been exposed to the virus plus a molecular viral load and core lab antigen tests for confirmation. These tests may help make linkage to treatment and care more accessible for millions of people living with hepatitis.
And for those people living with chronic HBV or HCV infections, doctors use molecular testing to see how they're responding to treatment. Our Alinity m HBV and HCV tests can help doctors monitor response to treatment. In settings that don’t have access to molecular testing, the ARCHITECT®HCV antigen test can also help assess response to treatment.
Eliminating Hepatitis as a Public Health Threat: What You Need to Know
Because HBV and HCV are often silent infections, a critical step in the battle against this epidemic is being tested to learn if you have been infected with these viruses. Ask your doctor if getting tested is right for you. Detection and treatment make it possible to achieve the WHO goals for eliminating HBV and HCV by 2030.
This story was originally published on July 25, 2019 and updated on July 21, 2022.
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