Investigations for Hepatitis C Virus infection

Dear Ask The Doctor: If the3 results from a blood test say anti-HCV IgG not decteded.....does this mean that a person does not have hepatitus C?

Dear Robert: You have been tested for the presence of Anti-HCV antibodies. These antibodies are proteins formed by the immune system on exposure to the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). If you tested negative for anti-HCV antibodies, this means that you have either never been exposed to the virus or an insufficient amount of time has passed since exposure to HCV, to mount an immune response with antibody formation. The most recent third-generation enzyme immunoassay EIA involves detecting antibodies and can yield positive results an average of 8 weeks after the onset of infection. Therefore if you have been exposed to the virus recently you must undergo additional testing for the presence of the hepatitis C virus. Further investigation may include repeat anti-HCV antibodies, 8 weeks post viral exposure and a measurement of the amount of virus present in the blood (the HCV viral load). More information on these results should be available from your family doctor or Infectious Diseases Consultant.