Hepatitis C Virus Antibody
A blood test, called an HCV antibody test, is used to find out if someone has ever been infected with the hepatitis C virus. The HCV antibody test, sometimes called the anti-HCV test, looks for antibodies to the hepatitis C virus in blood. Antibodies are chemicals released into the bloodstream when someone gets infected.
Description
What does a non-reactive HCV antibody test result mean?
- A non-reactive or negative antibody test means that you are not currently infected with the hepatitis C virus.
- However, if you think you might have been exposed to hepatitis C in the last 6 months, you will need to be tested again.
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. This is true if they have cleared the virus, have been cured, or still have the virus in their blood.
- A reactive antibody test does not necessarily mean that you currently have hepatitis C and a follow-up test is needed.
