Hepatitis C Antibody (HCV) Test - Hepatitis C Virus Antibody (HCV Ab) Test

This test (also known as Anti-HCV) detects the presence of antibodies produced by the immune system in response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. These antibodies typically appear 4–10 weeks after infection. A positive result means that a person has been exposed to the virus at some point in their life, but it does not differentiate between a current (chronic) active infection and one that has cleared. Therefore, a positive result requires confirmation by testing for HCV RNA to determine viral activity.