Medically reviewed by Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Haseeb, M.B.B.S., F.C.P.S. (Haematology), Consultant Haematologist, Al-Nasar Lab & Diagnostic Centre. Updated September 2026.
Quick answer: Hepatitis B is screened with HBsAg and hepatitis C with Anti-HCV. Both are simple blood tests needing no fasting. A positive screening test is not the final answer. It must be confirmed with a PCR viral load test, which shows whether the virus is actually active in your body.
Book a hepatitis screening: call 0300 0341944, or arrange home sample collection across Lahore on 0309 1166944.
Why does hepatitis screening matter so much in Pakistan?
Pakistan carries one of the heaviest hepatitis C burdens in the world, alongside a large number of people living with hepatitis B. Millions do not know they are infected.
Both viruses can live in the liver for years without producing a single symptom. Many people feel completely well while quiet scarring builds up, and the first sign of trouble arrives only once significant liver damage has already occurred. That is the entire reason screening exists: to find the infection during the long silent phase, when treatment works best.
Which test do you need?
| Test | What it detects | What a positive result means |
|---|---|---|
| HBsAg | Hepatitis B surface antigen | You currently have hepatitis B infection |
| Anti-HCV | Antibodies to hepatitis C | You have been exposed to hepatitis C at some point. It does not confirm active infection |
| HBV DNA PCR | Hepatitis B virus itself | Confirms active infection and measures how much virus is present |
| HCV RNA PCR | Hepatitis C virus itself | Confirms the infection is still active and needs treatment |
| Anti-HBs | Protective antibodies to hepatitis B | You are immune, either from vaccination or from past recovery |
Why a positive Anti-HCV is not the end of the story
This causes a great deal of unnecessary fear, so it is worth understanding clearly.
The Anti-HCV test detects antibodies, which your immune system produces after meeting the virus. Those antibodies remain in your blood for life, even in people whose bodies cleared the infection on their own. A meaningful proportion of people do clear hepatitis C naturally, and they will still test Anti-HCV positive years later despite having no virus at all.
This is why an HCV RNA PCR must follow. If the PCR is negative, there is no active infection. If it is positive, the infection is live and treatable. Never begin treatment, and never assume the worst, on the antibody test alone.
How do these viruses actually spread?
Both spread through blood, and in Pakistan the common routes are practical and preventable:
- Reused or unsterile syringes and needles, including at informal clinics
- Barber razors and shared blades
- Unsterilised dental and surgical instruments
- Unscreened blood transfusion
- Ear and nose piercing or tattooing with reused equipment
- Mother to child during birth, particularly with hepatitis B
Neither virus spreads through sharing food, hugging, or using the same utensils. That misunderstanding causes a lot of avoidable stigma for people living with these infections.
Who should be tested?
- Every adult in Pakistan, at least once. Given the national prevalence, one screening in a lifetime is a reasonable minimum
- Anyone who has had surgery, dental work or an injection at an unregulated facility
- Anyone who has received a blood transfusion
- People with a family member who has hepatitis B or C
- Pregnant women, as part of routine antenatal screening
- Anyone with abnormal liver function tests, ongoing tiredness or unexplained abdominal discomfort
- Healthcare workers and anyone regularly exposed to blood
Is there good news in a positive result?
Yes, genuinely, and this matters because fear stops people getting tested.
Hepatitis C is now curable in the great majority of cases. Modern direct acting antiviral tablets are taken for a few months and cure most patients, with far fewer side effects than the older injection based treatments people remember and dread.
Hepatitis B is preventable by vaccine and, where treatment is needed, is very effectively controlled with medication that protects the liver long term.
The worst outcome is not a positive test. It is never testing at all and discovering the problem once the liver is already scarred.
How to prepare
No fasting is required for HBsAg, Anti-HCV or the PCR tests. A blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm. If your doctor has combined the screening with liver function tests, blood sugar or a lipid profile, follow the fasting instructions for those.
Hepatitis testing at Al-Nasar Lab
Al-Nasar Lab & Diagnostic Centre has served Lahore since 1996 and holds ISO 15189:2022 accreditation from the Pakistan National Accreditation Council, which means our testing accuracy is independently assessed rather than self declared. Hepatitis B and C screening, PCR viral load testing and liver function testing are all available, with home sample collection across Lahore and same day digital reports for screening tests.
Find your nearest collection centre, browse our full test list, or contact us to book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which test is used to screen for hepatitis C?
Anti-HCV is the screening test. If it is positive, an HCV RNA PCR is required to confirm whether the infection is still active.
Do I need to fast for a hepatitis test?
No. Neither HBsAg, Anti-HCV nor the PCR tests require fasting.
Can hepatitis C be cured?
Yes. Modern antiviral tablets cure the large majority of patients within a few months. Your doctor decides the regimen after confirming active infection with PCR.
Is there a vaccine for hepatitis C?
No vaccine exists for hepatitis C, which is why avoiding unsterile needles and blades matters so much. Hepatitis B does have a safe and effective vaccine.
Can my liver tests be normal even with hepatitis?
Yes, and this is common. Liver enzymes can sit within the normal range for years while infection quietly continues, which is exactly why direct viral screening is needed rather than relying on liver function tests alone.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please discuss testing and results with a qualified doctor.
One Response