HCV Antibody Test

An HCV antibody test is used as a screening test for HCV infection. Early detection of HCV infection helps in timely treatment and prevention of transmission to healthy individuals.

This test is recommended in the following individuals:

• Recipients of blood from an HCV-positive blood donor
• Recipients of blood transfusion
• Those with abnormal results of liver function test
• Patients with haemophilia
• Drug users
• Individuals with HIV infection
• Patients on dialysis
• Children born to HCV-positive mothers
• Health care workers handling tissues and blood
• Those with sexual partners having HCV infection
• Anyone born from 1945 to 1965

No prior preparation is needed for this test.

A blood sample will be taken from a vein in your arm. The site of needle prick may remain sore for a short period. Some possible but infrequent complications of blood tests include pain, light-headedness, bruising and local infection in the arm.

Presence of HCV antibodies in blood may indicate a possible HCV infection or a carrier state, but it does not indicate immunity or infectivity. These levels may remain positive for many years after symptoms subside. A negative result does not exclude the possibility of infection since it may take up to 6 months for the levels to show up in the blood. Along with anti-HCV, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels fluctuate between normal and significantly elevated values.

Normal results: An absence of antibodies indicates a normal result.

Abnormal results: The presence of antibodies indicates an abnormal outcome. In such cases, a recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) test is also performed to confirm the diagnosis. 

If there is a high suspicion of an HCV infection even if the antibodies are negative, such as in immunocompromised patients or acute hepatitis, an HCV-RNA test is conducted to confirm active infection and to monitor treatment.

HCV antibody may not be positive in acute infections. Therefore, it is recommended to repeat the test after some months.

After a course of treatment, HCV antibody level will remain positive, but HCV-RNA will be undetectable. It is important that any patient showing up positive for HCV antibodies must be tested further to determine whether the virus is active or not.

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational perspective and is in no way a substitute for medical advice from a qualified doctor.