Diagnosis

Tests for acute and chronic hepatitis include blood tests to look for viral infection and blood test to look for levels of enzymes produced in the liver which will be elevated when liver cells are damaged and dying.

In chronic hepatitis a liver biopsy is usually necessary so that the pathologist can identify the type of liver cell damage. With a liver biopsy, a small piece of the liver is removed through a needle and looked at under a microscope. A liver biopsy may help your doctor find out what is wrong with your liver. Your doctor may also want to look at your liver with an ultrasound exam and x-rays.