Hepatitis B and C in Pakistan: tests (HBsAg, anti-HCV, PCR), treatment and prevention
How hepatitis B and C spread in Pakistan, which tests to get (HBsAg, anti-HCV, HCV PCR), what a positive result means, that hepatitis C is curable, and how to protect your family.
3 min readUpdated 31 October 2026
This is general information only, not medical advice. Please always confirm with your medical consultant or a certified doctor before using any medicine, test or treatment.
Pakistan has one of the largest numbers of people living with hepatitis C in the world, and hepatitis B is also common. Both viruses can damage the liver silently for years and lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer. The good news: hepatitis C can now be cured with tablets, and hepatitis B can be prevented with a vaccine and controlled with treatment.
How they spread
- Unsafe injections and drips, and reused syringes or needles.
- Unscreened blood transfusions.
- Shared razors (including at barbers), toothbrushes, and unsterile dental, tattoo, ear-piercing or circumcision tools.
- Hepatitis B also spreads from mother to baby at birth and through sex.
They do not spread through hugging, sharing food or water, or coughing.
Who should get tested
Testing is simple and many people should do it at least once, especially:
- Anyone who has had injections, drips, transfusions, surgery or dental work in unsafe conditions.
- Pregnant women.
- Family members of someone with hepatitis B or C.
- People with abnormal liver function tests, jaundice or diabetes on long-term care.
- Before dialysis, surgery or blood donation.
The tests
| Test | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| HBsAg | Screening test for hepatitis B. Positive means hepatitis B virus is present now. |
| Anti-HCV | Screening test for hepatitis C. Positive means you were infected at some time; it does not tell if the virus is still active. |
| HCV PCR (HCV RNA) | Confirms whether hepatitis C is active now, and is used to check cure after treatment. |
| LFT | Shows how much the liver is affected. |
A positive anti-HCV with a negative PCR usually means the infection has cleared. A positive PCR means you need treatment.
Hepatitis C is curable
Modern tablets called direct-acting antivirals cure hepatitis C in most patients, usually in 12 weeks (longer in some cases). Common combinations in Pakistan include sofosbuvir with daclatasvir, or sofosbuvir with velpatasvir. Generic brands made in Pakistan are among the cheapest in the world, and government hepatitis programmes also offer free testing and treatment in many districts.
- Treatment must be chosen and followed up by a doctor, who checks the liver first and the PCR after treatment.
- Take every dose; do not stop early.
- Being cured does not protect you from getting hepatitis C again, so keep avoiding the risks above.
Hepatitis B: vaccine and treatment
- The hepatitis B vaccine is part of Pakistan's routine childhood immunisation and is recommended for adults who are not protected. Ask your doctor.
- Many people with chronic hepatitis B need regular monitoring rather than immediate treatment. When treatment is needed, doctors use antivirals such as tenofovir or entecavir, often for years.
- Babies of mothers with hepatitis B should get the vaccine (and sometimes immunoglobulin) within hours of birth.
Protect your family
- Insist on a new, sealed syringe for every injection, and avoid unnecessary injections and drips.
- Use your own razor and toothbrush; ask the barber for a new blade.
- Accept blood only from screened, registered blood banks.
- Get family members tested and vaccinated against hepatitis B.
Find labs for these tests in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, or compare lab test prices.
This is general information only, not medical advice. Please always confirm with your medical consultant or a certified doctor before using any medicine, test or treatment.