Table 1 Description of variables used in SVM analyses

 HBsAg

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (marker of HBV infection)

Positive (1) or Negative (0)

 HepC

Patient antibody to HCV, indicating contact with virus (Both HBsAg and HepC detected by immunoassay)

 Age

Patient (case) Age

Years

 Sex

Gender 1 = F, 2 = M

M or F

 ALT

Alanine aminotransferase; an intracellular enzyme released after liver and other tissue cell damage

U/L

 GGT

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; an intracellular enzyme also relevant to liver damage

U/L

 Hb

Haemoglobin

g/L

 Hct

Haematocrit; formerly known as “packed cell volume”

%

 Mch

Mean corpuscular haemoglobin

pg/RBC

 MCHC

Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration

g/L

 MCV

Mean corpuscular volume

f/L

 Plt

Platelets; an agent in blood clotting

× 10⁹/L

 WCC

White cell count

× 10⁹/L

 RCC

Red cell count

× 10¹²/L

 Crea

Creatinine; excreted by filtration through glomerulus and tubular section

μmol/L

 K

Potassium; predominant intracellular cation whose plasma level is regulated by renal excretion

mmol/L

 ALKP

Alkaline Phosphate; found in liver, bone, intestine and liver

U/L

 ALB

Albumin; major component of plasma proteins

g/L

 TBil

Total Bilirubin levels are reflective of the rate that the body recycles the red cells in the blood; bilirubin is a breakdown product of old, spent red blood cells.

μmol/L

 Sodium

Sodium; predominant extracellular cation

mmol/L

 Urea

Blood urea; often used to detect kidney related infections.

mmol/L

 RDW

Red cell distribution width

%

 Neut

Neutrophils; white blood cells, elevated by bacterial infection and early viral infection

× 10⁹/L

 Lymph

Lymphocytes; white blood cells, elevated by viral infection and some cancers

× 10⁹/L

 Mono

Monocytes; white blood cells, elevated by infection, inflammation, and some cancers

× 10⁹/L

 Eos

Eosinophils; white blood cells, elevated by allergy and parasite infection

× 10⁹/L

 Bas

Basophils; white blood cell, elevated in hypersensitivity reactions

× 10⁹/L