Hepatitis C patients usually find the boxes marked LFT (Liver Function Tests) and FBC (Full Blood Count) ticked on their blood test forms. Below are a few of the more important results.

ALT - Alanine aminotransferase
One of the markers for liver inflammation.
Typical (non-HEP C) values: Men--10 to 32 IU/L, Women--9 to 24 IU/L
The normal range is 5-40 IU/L (Some doctors think that anything under 50 is still OK.)

AST - Aspartate aminotransferase.
Another of the markers for liver inflammation.
A rising level means continuing damage, decreasing means tissue repair
Typical (non-HEP C) value 8 to 20 IU/L
The normal range is 5-40 IU/L. (Some doctors think that anything under 50 is still OK.)

AFP - Alpha Foetal Protein
Normally produced by the foetus in pregnancy, normal (non-pregnant) levels of AFP are below 10 ng/ml.
Higher levels are common with Hepatitis C, particularly during treatment. When levels climb to over 500, or appear to be rising rapidly this may be cause for concern as it could indicate presence of cancer, particularly liver cancer. About 60% of liver cancers produce AFP.

ALP - Alkaline Phospatase
Liver and bone disease marker.
Typical values 38-126 IU/L

Albumin
One of the major proteins in the blood. Low levels present with oedema.
Typical values 35-55 g/L.

Bilirubin
Liver disease marker - also elevated by gall bladder and bile duct problems. Bilirubin is the yellowish colour associated with jaundice.
Typical values 3-10 g/L.

GGT - Gamma Glutamyl Transferase
Liver disease marker - also elevated by alcohol and prostate problems. Typical values Male 9-54 IU/L, Female 8-35 IU/L

Prothrombin Time
The liver manufactures most of the clotting factors that the body uses to stop bleeding. The time it takes to produce a clot, called the prothrombin time (PT), generally runs from nine to eleven seconds.

Platelets
Platelets are red blood cells that help the blood form clots and carry oxygen around the body. A normal platelet count is 150 - 400 (x 10 ⁹ /l). If a patient has a value lower than 150x10⁹/l, then this is cause for concern.

Haemoglobin
Haemoglobin, in the red blood cells, carries oxygen around the body.
Normal values are Male: 13-17 (g/dl) Female: 12-16 (g/dl)
Values below 10 are cause for concern.

Red Cell Count
Normal values are - Male: 4-6 (x 10¹² /l) Female: 3-5 (x 10¹² /l)

Haematocrit
Haematocrit measures the amount of blood volume taken up by red cells, and depends on their number and their size.

Normal Haematocrit values are 0.36-0.5 (36-50%)

These three others measure the size of the red cells
MCH    - normally 27 - 37 (pg)
MCHC - normally 30 - 35 (g/dl)
MCV    - normally 80 - 100 (fl)

White Cell Count (Total)
Normal range is 4 - 11 (x 10⁹ /l)
White cells are the bodies defence system. Treatment tends to lower their numbers which can lead to lack of resistance to infections. Values below 1.5 are cause for concern. Equally a high figure can indicate that the body is fighting an infection.

Differential white cell counts
Neutrophils   normally 1.8 - 7.7 (x 10 ⁹ /l) Below 0.75 is cause for concern.
Eosinophils  normally 0.01 - 0.1 (x 10 ⁹ /l)
Basophils     normally 1.0 - 4.8 (x 10 ⁹ /l)
Lymphocyte  normally 0.2 - 0.8 (x 10 ⁹ /l)
Monocytes    normally 0.2 - 0.8 (x 10 ⁹ /l)

Different white cells have different functions, and these counts allow your doctor to make an educated guess as to the cause of any elevated figure.