What does a positive HCV antibody result mean?

What does a reactive HCV antibody test result mean? ► A reactive or positive antibody test means you have been infected with the hepatitis C virus at some point in time. ► Once people have been infected, they will always have antibodies in their blood.

How common is hep C false positive?

But false positives are surprisingly common. More than 1 in 5 people who test positive don’t actually have hepatitis C. Possible reasons include: In as many as 1 in 4 people, the HCV goes away without treatment.

Can you have Hep C antibodies and not have hep C?

Some people have antibodies associated with the virus in their blood but do not have an active hepatitis C infection. These antibodies can lead to false-positive results on blood tests for an active infection. A person can have hepatitis C for a number of years, or sometimes decades, without experiencing any symptoms.

When do hep C antibodies show up?

The hepatitis C (HCV) window period is usually 4–10 weeks from the time of exposure. After 6 months , most people will have developed enough antibodies for an HCV test to detect. In rare cases, however, antibodies can take up to 9 months to develop.

Why would my doctor order a Hep C antibody test?

A hepatitis C antibody test is used to find out if you are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). When your body is infected with a virus, it produces antibodies to fight the virus. The hepatitis C antibody test looks for antibodies that the body produces in response to the presence of HCV.

How do you read HCV RNA results?

If your results are:

1. Fewer than 15 IU/mL: The virus is detected, but the amount can’t be measured exactly.
2. Fewer than 800,000 IU/mL: A low viral load is detected.
3. More than 800,000 IU/mL: A high viral load is detected.
4. More than 100,000,000 IU/mL: The virus is detected and active infection is taking place.