An antibody marker indicating past or present hepatitis C infection.
This test looks for IgG antibodies directed against the core protein of the hepatitis C virus. It is part of how laboratories confirm and characterise a positive hepatitis C antibody screen.
Detecting antibodies to a specific viral protein like the core helps distinguish a true HCV response from non-specific reactions, supporting a reliable screening result.
Hepatitis C can stay silent for years while affecting the liver, and it is now curable once identified. Antibody testing is the entry point to finding it. Looking at antibodies against a defined viral protein adds confidence to a reactive result.
A non-reactive result is reassuring. A reactive result shows exposure to the virus and, like any HCV antibody result, calls for an HCV RNA test to confirm whether the infection is still active.
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 HCV core IgG antibodies detected |
| Reactive | Exposure to HCV, needs HCV RNA confirmation |
A reactive antibody result does not confirm active infection. Cutoffs are defined by the assay and may vary by laboratory.
You learn whether IgG antibodies to the HCV core protein are present. A negative result means none were found. A reactive result indicates exposure and leads to an HCV RNA (PCR) test to check for active infection, since antibodies can persist after the virus has cleared.
Antibodies take weeks to develop, so recent infection can be missed. They may persist for life after a cleared or cured infection, so a reactive result does not prove active disease. Rare false-reactive results are possible. Fasting does not affect the result.
Read with the overall anti-HCV screen, an HCV RNA (PCR) test, and liver enzymes such as ALT.
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