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Test Code LAB4764 HEPATITIS C ANTIBODY SCREEN WITH REFLEX TO HCV RNA PCR

Important Note

This HCV test code should be used for general population screening purposes.

For patients with history or suspicion of HCV, please refer to the Diagnostic HCV test here

Samples reactive for Hepatitis C Antibody will be sent to Mayo for HCV RNA confirmatory testing (HCVQN).

Additional Codes

Order this test for Labcorp 140659 or 144050

Interpath 2304, 2698

Specimen Type

Serum (SST, Gold, Corvac, Tiger, Red Top)

 

Note: Lithium Heparin (Light green/Dark green top tubes) are an acceptable alternate specimen at Kootenai Health. The confirmatory test at Mayo requires SST. If a reactive result is obtained from a Lithium Heparin tube, recollection is required to perform the reflex testing.

Specimen Volume

1 mL

Minimum Volume

0.5mL Serum/Plasma

*Samples reactive from Hepatitis C Antibody will be sent to Mayo for HCV RNA confirmatory testing (HCVQN). See test directory for possible additional specimen requirements.

Turnaround Time

STAT: 1 hour

Timed: 4 hours

Routine: 4 hours

Test Schedule

Daily

Sample Stability

Room Temp: 3 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: N/A

Method

Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA)

Reference Ranges

Nonreactive

Synonyms

HCV
HEPATITIS C
Hepatitis C AB Qual IA
ANTI-HCV
HCVAB
Hepatitis C AB w/ reflex to RNA PCR

Interpretation

Non-Reactive: Antibodies to HCV were not detected; does not exclude the possiblility of exposure to HCV.

Equivocal: Antibodies to HCV may or may not be present; another specimen should be obtained from the individual for further testing or follow CDC recommendations for supplemental testing.

Reactive: Presumptive evidence of antibodies to HCV. HCV RNA test will be reflexed and sent out for confirmation.

CPT Code

86803

G0472 (if appropriate, for government payors)

Clinical Information

Used to aid in the presumptive diagnosis of HCV infection in persons with signs and symptoms of hepatitis and in people at risk for hepatitis C infection. Anti-HCV antibody tests are used in combination with other tests (e.g. HCV RNA) to detect infection with hepatitis C virus.

 

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a bloodborne virus. Serological studies employing enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for detection of antibodies to recombinant antigens of HCV have established HCV as the cause of most bloodborne as well as community-acquired non-A, non-B hepatitis. The presence of anti-HCV indicates that an individual may have been infected with HCV, may harbor infectious HCV, and/or may be capable of transmitting HCV infection.

 

Approximately 70-85 % of HCV infections progress to chronic disease including chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and/or increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Due to the high rate of asymptomatic infections, clinical diagnosis is difficult and diagnostic assays are of major importance. The implementation of blood donation screening for anti-HCV by EIAs has led to a marked decline in the risk of transfusion-transmitted hepatitis.