Diagnosis

Tests and procedures used to diagnose toxic hepatitis include:

• Physical exam. Your doctor will likely perform a physical exam and take a medical history. Be sure to bring to your appointment all medications you're taking, including over-the-counter drugs and herbs, in their original containers. Tell your doctor if you work with industrial chemicals or may have been exposed to pesticides, herbicides or other environmental toxins.
• Blood tests. Your doctor may order blood tests that look for high levels of certain liver enzymes. These enzyme levels can show how well your liver is functioning.
• Imaging tests. Your doctor may recommend an imaging test to create a picture of your liver using ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Additional imaging tests may include magnetic elastography and transient elastography.
• Liver biopsy. A liver biopsy can help confirm the diagnosis of toxic hepatitis and help exclude other causes. During a liver biopsy, a needle is used to extract a small sample of tissue from your liver. The sample is examined under a microscope.