An antibody test that screens for hepatitis C infection.
This test screens your blood for antibodies against the hepatitis C virus (HCV), a virus that can infect the liver. Anti-HCV antibodies show that your immune system has encountered the virus at some point.
It is a screening test. A reactive result shows past or present exposure but does not by itself tell you whether the infection is still active.
Hepatitis C often causes no symptoms for years while it can quietly damage the liver. Screening matters because the infection is now curable with modern medication, but only once it is found. Many people were exposed years ago and never knew.
A non-reactive result is reassuring. A reactive result means you have been exposed and need a follow-up HCV RNA test to confirm whether the virus is still present.
Aniva reads your result against research-backed ranges, not just the lab's wide normal. The reference shown below is specific to this biomarker.
This test is reported qualitatively. The expected result for someone without HCV exposure is Negative or Non-reactive.
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Non-reactive (negative) | No anti-HCV antibodies detected |
| Reactive | Past or present exposure, needs HCV RNA confirmation |
A reactive antibody result is not the same as an active infection. Cutoffs are defined by the assay and may vary by laboratory.
You learn whether anti-HCV antibodies are present. A negative result means none were found. A reactive result calls for an HCV RNA (PCR) test to see if there is an active infection, since antibodies can stay positive even after the virus has cleared.
Antibodies can take weeks to appear after exposure, so very recent infection can be missed. Antibodies may persist for life even after a cured or cleared infection, so a reactive result does not prove active disease. Rare false-reactive results are possible. Fasting does not affect the result.
Read with an HCV RNA (PCR) test if the antibody screen is reactive, and with liver enzyme results such as ALT.
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