Also the fibrosure and hepascore dont use exactly the same biomarkers to come up with their scores. You can just google them and they will tell you what they use..
Also, once I have a pre-treatment biopsy then, in my view, it stands to reason that the post treatment assessment would also be a biopsy for appropriate comparisons and not some other test in much the same vein as, say, using the same weight scale if one is on a diet.
I am doing the biopsy because it has been around longer and presumably specialists have become more adept at their interpretations of what they see. In my profession I do a lot of testing and analysis. The best tests seem to be those which have been around longer with a history of research data related to them and experienced clinicians who know how to "read" the results. It is just not all that black and white and, in my view, the test is only as good as the individual who uses it. I was looking at the Fibro whatevers and am being given that option but I think I decided that the biopsy would be better for me.
i've never had a fibrosis blood test. i have heard that the blood tests might be useful to differentiate cirrhosis from lesser stages of scarring, but are pretty worthless for differentiating stage 2 form stage 3. i asked a hepatologist about these tests, and the answer was along the lines of "not worth the paper they are printed on." some find them useful though so hopefully someone that actually knows something, unlike me, will chime in.
blessings
eric
All I can tell you is the discrepancy between my last fibrosure f4-cirhossis and hepascore f2-f4 is what pushed me to biopsy grade 1 stage 2 and then treat. I was totally relying on the hepascore blood tests which I was having every 6 -9 months over a period of 2 years. there was some progression but stayed in the f0-f1 range until the last one in March 2011 I decided to try the fribrosure which came back with the bad resut F4. I backed it up with the Hepascore but was to vague the f2-f4. I really dont trust any of them but Over all most think the biopsy is still the most accurate test. You could do the fibrosure/hepascore and see if there is an indication of any progression. Where did you stand with the last biopsy? Im sure you posted that already but I dont remember where it is. Good luck with your decision. It was maddening for me. Glad I dont have to worry about that ANYMORE!!
Anybody know if all these are the same tests with the same kind of results? My doctor is unavailable right now to ask. Or, am I just being a bonehead?? LOL