Hepatitis C Antibody Blood Test with Reflex on Positives

A Hepatitis C Antibody Blood Test with Reflex on Positives is used to assess exposure to hepatitis C virus infection and tests blood safety.

Description

If Hepatitis C Antibody is reactive, then Hepatitis C Viral RNA, Quantitative, Real-Time PCR will be performed at no additional charge.

Hepatitis C is a liver disease that is bloodborne and is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Exposure to the blood of an infected person may result in infection. Abnormal results may require further evaluation by your physician.

This test is used to identify antibodies to Hepatitis C virus. Since an individual with a previous infection will have a lifelong reaction to the antibody, confirmed positive testing of the antibody means that at one moment or another, the individual was exposed to the virus. In ruling out HCV, this test is highly efficient. The most up to date EIA is capable as early as six to eight weeks of antibody detection.  Although it may be highly helpful to have a negative at this time, it is best to wait about three months to prevent a follow-up test.   

As many as 90% of commercial intravenous immunoglobulins test positive for hepatitis C antibody, so an artifactual positive could result temporarily after transfusion.

In August 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released final instruction recommending that all individuals born during 1945-1965 be tested for Hepatitis C virus (HCV). An assessment of information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2008 discovered that 1 in 30 baby boomers is infected with HCV. In addition, baby boomers account for about 75% of HCV prevalence in the US. Before there was any awareness of HCV or how it was transferred, many were infected.  Furthermore, most are asymptomatic and often unaware of their infection until substantial complications are obtained.