Frequently Asked Questions Diagnosis and testing

What   is hepatitis C? Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C   virus (HCV), which is found in the blood of persons who have this disease. HCV  is spread by contact with the blood of an infected person.

What   blood tests are available to check for hepatitis C? There are several blood tests that can be done to   determine if you have been infected with HCV. Your doctor may order just one   or a combination of these tests. The following are the types of tests your   doctor may order and the purpose for each:

a) Anti-HCV (antibody to HCV)

EIA    (enzyme immunoassay) or CIA (enhanced chemiluminescence immunoassay)                Test is usually done first. If positive, it should be confirmed

RIBA   (recombinant immunoblot assay)               A supplemental test used to confirm a positive EIA test

Anti-HCV does not tell whether the infection is new (acute), chronic (long-term) or is ; no longer present.

b) Qualitative tests to detect presence or absence of virus (HCV RNA)

c) Quantitative tests to detect amount (titer) of virus (HCV RNA)

A   single positive PCR test indicates infection with HCV. A single negative test   does not prove that a person is not infected. Virus may be present in the   blood and just not found by PCR. Also, a person infected in the past who has   recovered may have a negative test. When hepatitis C is suspected and PCR is   negative, PCR should be repeated.