What does negative anti HCV mean?
What does a negative HCV antibody test result mean? A negative antibody test result usually means that the person has not been infected with hepatitis C (unless they were infected very recently or have a weakened immune system). The body needs at least two months (and sometimes up to nine months) to make antibodies.
What is a good HCV ratio?
Reactive results with S/Co ratios of 8.0 or greater are highly predictive (95% or greater probability) of the true anti-HCV status, but additional testing is needed to differentiate between past (resolved) and chronic hepatitis C.
Is 0.1 positive or negative for Hep C?
Persons recommended for hepatitis C testing. Universal hepatitis C screening: Hepatitis C screening at least once in a lifetime for all adults aged ≥18 years, except in settings where the prevalence of HCV infection (HCV RNA-positivity) is <0.1%
Can you have hep C and test negative?
A “false-negative” test means your results suggest that you have not been exposed to hepatitis C, when in fact you have been. One reason someone could have a false-negative result is that they have been infected with hepatitis C recently and haven’t developed enough antibodies for the test to detect them.
What do Hep C numbers mean?
The viral load of hepatitis C refers to the amount of virus present in the bloodstream. The quantitative HCV RNA tests measure the amount of hepatitis C virus in the blood. The result will be an exact number, such as “1,215,422 IU/L.” Many people refer to the quantitative measurement as the hepatitis C “viral load.”
How do you read HCV results?
There are two results from a hepatitis C antibody test.
- A non-reactive or negative test result means that the person does not have the virus.
- A reactive or positive test result means that the person has had the virus at some point but does not mean that they still have it.
How do you read HCV RNA results?
If your results are:
- Fewer than 15 IU/mL: The virus is detected, but the amount can’t be measured exactly.
- Fewer than 800,000 IU/mL: A low viral load is detected.
- More than 800,000 IU/mL: A high viral load is detected.
- More than 100,000,000 IU/mL: The virus is detected and active infection is taking place.
How do you read HCV test results?
The first test is the hep C RNA qualitative test, also known as the PCR test. A positive result means that a person has the hepatitis C virus. A negative result means that the body has cleared the virus without treatment. The second test is the hep C RNA quantitative test.
What does 0.9 mean on a hep C test?
Negative: < 0.8. Indeterminate: 0.8 – 0.9 Positive: > 0.9 The CDC recommends that a positive HCV antibody result be followed up with a HCV Nucleic Acid Amplification test (550713).
Would Hep C show up in routine blood tests?
Many people think that because they’ve had a blood test, they will have automatically been tested for hepatitis B and hepatitis C and therefore don’t have to worry.
Can a sample be reported as nonreactive for HCV?
Sample can be reported as nonreactive for HCV antibody. No further action required. If recent exposure in person tested is suspected, test for HCV RNA.* A repeatedly reactive result is consistent with current HCV infection, or past HCV infection that has resolved, or biologic false positivity for HCV antibody.
What does repeatedly reactive result for HCV mean?
A repeatedly reactive result is consistent with current HCV infection, or past HCV infection that has resolved, or biologic false positivity for HCV antibody. Test for HCV RNA to identify current infection.
What should I do if my hepatitis C antibody is positive?
If the antibody test result is positive, you should be tested for hepatitis C RNA (see “Hepatitis C RNA”), which determines whether you are chronically infected. The lab will perform this RNA test automatically if your hepatitis C antibody test is positive.
Do you test for HCV if you have a past infection?
If recent exposure in person tested is suspected, test for HCV RNA.* A repeatedly reactive result is consistent with current HCV infection, or past HCV infection that has resolved, or biologic false positivity for HCV antibody. Test for HCV RNA to identify current infection.