Mayo Test Catalog, (Sorted By Test Name) - Mayo Medical ...

(anti-HCV) in serum, using a FDA-approved anti-HCV screening test. Specimens that are repeatedly
reactive by screening tests should be confirmed by more HCV-specific tests, such as direct detection of
HCV RNA by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) or strip recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) using
recombinant HCV-specific antigens. HCV antibodies are usually not detectable during the first 2 months
following infection, but they are usually detectable by the late convalescent stage (>6 months after onset)
of infection. These antibodies do not neutralize the virus and they do not provide immunity against this
viral infection. Loss of HCV antibodies may occur in the year following resolution of infection. Current
screening serologic tests to detect antibodies to HCV include EIA and chemiluminescence immunoassay
(CIA). Despite the value of serologic tests to screen for HCV infection, several limitations of serologic
testing exist: -There may be a long delay (up to 6 months) between exposure to the virus and the
development of a detectable HCV antibody -False-reactive screening test result can occur -A reactive
screening test result does not distinguish between past (resolved) and present HCV infection -Serologic
tests cannot provide information on clinical response to anti-HCV therapy Reactive screening test results
should be followed by a supplemental or confirmatory test, such as RIBA for HCV antibodies or a nucleic
acid test for HCV RNA. Nucleic acid tests provide a very sensitive and specific approach for the direct
detection of HCV RNA. See Recommended Approach to the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Patients with
Hepatitis C Virus in Special Instructions.
Useful For: Detection and diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C virus infection
Interpretation: Screening test (CIA): Reactive hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody screening results
with signal-to-cutoff (S/CO) ratios of or
=8.0 are highly predictive (> or =95% probability) of the true anti-HCV status, but additional testing is
needed to differentiate between past (resolved) and chronic hepatitis C. A negative screening test result
does not exclude the possibility of exposure to or infection with HCV. Negative screening test results in
individuals with prior exposure to HCV may be due to low antibody levels that are below the limit of
detection of this assay or lack of reactivity to the HCV antigens used in this assay. Patients with recent
HCV infections ( or =3.8 by EIA, or > or =8.0 by chemiluminescence immunoassay [CIA]), does not necessarily
indicate past or resolved HCV infection. Individuals with such results should be retested for HCV RNA
in 1 to 2 months, to distinguish between patients with past/resolved HCV infection and those with
chronic HCV infection having episodic HCV replication. Presence of anti-HCV antibodies (assay
signal-to-cutoff ratio of