Most people with chronic HCV infection are asymptomatic or have non-specific symptoms such as chronic fatigue and depression. Many eventually develop chronic liver disease, which can range from mild to severe, including cirrhosis and liver cancer.
What happens if HCV is positive?
A positive result means that you were exposed to the hepatitis C virus at some point in your life. If the result is positive, your provider will perform a second test called hepatitis C virus RNA (or HCV RNA) to see if the virus is still in your body.
What is anti-HCV rapid test?
Rapid Anti-HCV Test is a colloidal gold enhanced, rapid immunochromatographic assay for qualitative detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in human whole blood (venous and fingerstick), serum or plasma specimens in adults.
Can you get hepatitis from a lancet?
We think it is very unlikely that your child or you have been exposed to any infection from the use of the lancet holder at the clinic, but if you wish, a blood test to check for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV can be done. The risk of infection is extremely low but we cannot be absolutely sure that there is none.
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.
What does HCV RNA 15 mean?
If a quantitative HCV RNA result is reported as “<15 IU/L,” this means that the quantitative test cannot measure the hepatitis C virus. It may mean that there is no detectable HCV RNA at all, but it may mean that the level of virus is just too low for the test to pick it up.
How do you treat Hep C positive?
Hepatitis C is treated using direct-acting antiviral (DAA) tablets. DAA tablets are the safest and most effective medicines for treating hepatitis C. They’re highly effective at clearing the infection in more than 90% of people. The tablets are taken for 8 to 12 weeks.
Is HCV positive curable?
Today, chronic HCV is usually curable with oral medications taken every day for two to six months. Still, about half of people with HCV don’t know they’re infected, mainly because they have no symptoms, which can take decades to appear.
How do you read Hep C 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.
