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Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease

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Summary Table

for Health Care Providers

Summary Table - Hepatitis C

Back to Assessment of Liver Fibrosis

TestMethodAdvantagesDisadvantages
APRICalculator using routine blood testsHighly convenient Reasonable sensitivity and specificity for predicting cirrhosisNot able to differentiate stages of fibrosis
FIB-4Calculator using routine blood tests and ageHighly convenient Reasonable sensitivity and specificity for predicting cirrhosisNot able to differentiate stages of fibrosis
FibroSureBlood test - panel of indirect biomarkersModerately convenient Reasonable sensitivity and specificity for predicting cirrhosis and predicting no fibrosis
Not FDA approved
Cost
Low sensitivity and specificity for intermediate stages of fibrosis
FibroScanTransient elastography, measure of liver stiffness. Ultrasound-based techniqueModerately convenient if facility has the equipment High sensitivity and specificity
Determines specific stages of fibrosis
Reproducible
Rapid results
Easy to learn technique
Cost
Few facilities have the equipment
Less accurate in obese patients
ARFIAcoustic Radiation Force Impulse - measure of liver stiffness. Ultrasound-based techniqueModerately convenient if facility has the equipment
High sensitivity and specificity
Determines specific stages of fibrosis
Reproducible
Rapid results
Easy to learn technique
Cost
Few facilities have the equipment
BiopsyDirect tissue samplingDirect sampling, gold standard
Able to differentiate other liver diseases
Cost
Risk of complications
Patient adverse to the procedure
Risks to patients with cirrhosis