Latvia has one of the highest rates of hepatitis C cases in Europe, but there is no national screening programme, so many cases of hepatitis C remain undiagnosed. To promote early diagnosis, on 12 November this year, all branches of the Central Laboratory (Centrālā laboratorija) will offer free hepatitis C antibody testing (anti-HCV) and ferritin analysis.
Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. If left untreated, it can cause serious liver damage and impaired liver function. The disease is spread by contact with infected blood.
The anti-HCV test is used worldwide as a screening method for hepatitis C, while the ferritin test is an additional test that not only reflects iron reserves in the body, but may also be associated with inflammation or liver disease, including hepatitis C.
In case of a positive anti-HCV test, you should contact your GP, gastroenterologist or infectologist and have a hepatitis C virus core antigen test (HCV Ag) or hepatitis C virus RNA analysis (HCV RNA) to confirm or rule out active infection.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Latvia has the second-highest incidence of hepatitis C among EU/EEA countries.
It is almost six times higher than the European average at 42.3 cases per 100,000 population, compared to an average of 7.4 cases in Europe¹.
To promote early diagnosis, on 12 November this year the Digestive Diseases Society, in collaboration with Central Laboratory Ltd, is organising a social campaign “Discover. Take Action!”, where people can take the hepatitis C antibody test (anti-HCV) and the ferritin test free of charge at all Central Laboratory branches.
“Every day at the laboratory we see the importance of early diagnosis. But we also know that for many people, regular health check-ups are not a priority because as a society we are still learning the importance of prevention and regular health check-ups. Many diseases develop over a long period of time without manifestations, but once symptoms appear, they are much harder and longer to cure.
“The “Discover. Take Action!” is another of our public health investments to reduce hepatitis C in Latvia and help people start early treatment. Every case detected means a chance to be cured, to remain fit for work and to have a good quality of life in the long term,” says Zane Kaktiņa, Chair of the Board of Central Laboratory.
The social campaign “Discover. Take Action!” campaign is supported by the Ministry of Health, the Latvian Association of Gastroenterologists and the Latvian Association of Infectologists and Hepatologists.
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