Hepatitis causes significant morbidity and mortality globally and in the US. Worldwide, viral hepatitis was implicated in 1.35 million deaths in 2015. Globally, over 300 million people have chronic hepatitis. In the United States, it is estimated that 2 to 5 million people are living with hepatitis C, while 850,000 to 2 million people are estimated to be living with hepatitis B.
Without appropriate laboratory testing, hepatitis can be hard to diagnose and differentiate. There are multiple causes of hepatitis, not all hepatitis is viral. The symptoms accompanying viral hepatitis are shared by other diseases. The laboratory thus has an important role in the workup, monitoring, and treatment of patients with suspected hepatitis. The quick and accurate diagnosis of acute hepatitis can lead to lower transmission, better treatment, and better public health outcomes.
