Serum Anti-HCV

Specimen Required

3-5cc Clotted Blood or Serum

Fasting Required

Purpose of the Serum Anti-HCV Test

To screen for and diagnose a hepatitis C virus infection and to monitor treatment of the infection

When this Serum Anti-HCV test is required

Hepatitis C infection is a common cause of chronic liver disease . About 65-75% of those infected will develop chronic hepatitis, and about 20-30% of those develop cirrhosis. HCV testing is recommended in the following cases: If you have ever injected illegal drugs If you received a blood transfusion or organ transplantation before mid-1992* If you have received clotting factor concentrates produced before 1987 If you were ever on long-term dialysis For children born to HCV-positive women For health care, emergency medicine, and public safety workers after needlesticks, sharps, or mucosal exposure to HCV-positive blood For people with evidence of chronic liver disease* The blood supply has been monitored in the UK since mid-1992, and any units of blood that test positive for HCV are rejected for use in another person. The current risk of HCV infection from transfused blood is less than 1 case per million transfused units.A positive anti-HCV test will be confirmed with an alternative test, especially if the test is “weakly positive.” Qualitative HCV-RNA may be used when the antibody test is positive to see if the infection is still present. HCV viral load and genotyping will be performed to plan treatment and to monitor response to treatment.

What the Serum Anti-HCV Test Detects

Hepatitis C is a virus that can infect and damage the liver. In most cases, it is contracted through exposure to blood (usually from sharing contaminated needles while injecting drugs or, before 1992, through a blood transfusion), through sex with an infected person, via healthcare occupational exposure and it can also be passed from mother to baby. Many people who are infected with Hepatitis C are not aware they are as acute…Hepatitis C is a virus that can infect and damage the liver. In most cases, it is contracted through exposure to blood (usually from sharing contaminated needles while injecting drugs or, before 1992, through a blood transfusion), through sex with an infected person, via healthcare occupational exposure and it can also be passed from mother to baby. Many people who are infected with Hepatitis C are not aware they are as acute infection produces few to mild non-specific symptoms. However Hepatitis C can also exist as a chronic (longstanding) infection and you can show no signs of this for a number of years (even decades) but it can then cause significant liver damage. About 65-75% of those infected can develop chronic liver disease with 20-30% of these developing cirrhosis over many years. Hepatitis C antibody is produced by the body in response to exposure to the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The most common test for HCV looks for these antibodies in your blood. Some first line tests are also looking for the hepatitis C antigen, which the virus itself produces, as well as your antibody response. Other tests detect the presence of and actual amount of virus present or determine the specific subtype of virus. How is the sample collected for testing? A blood sample is taken by needle from a vein in your arm. Is any test preparation needed to ensure the quality of the sample? No test preparation is needed. See MoreSee Less

Preparation for the Serum Anti-HCV Test

None

Sample Requirements

A blood sample taken from a vein in your arm

Additional Notes

HCV antibodies usually do not appear until several months into an infection but will always be present in the later stages of the disease.Ten percent of people with HCV have no recognised source for their infection. Sexual exposures account for 15% of HCV cases.

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