When should I get tested for Hep C?

Hepatitis C is an infection that can go undetected for a long period as most people do not develop any symptoms in the initial stages. If a person has contracted the virus, it may take at least 4-10 weeks for their body to develop antibodies against the hepatitis C virus, which a test may detect. In some cases, it may even take up to 6-9 months to develop enough antibodies that can be detected. In general, people who should undergo the test for the hepatitis C virus include those who have: Shared drug-injecting equipment Used medical equipment without sterilising Been exposed to the blood of someone infected with the virus Received blood from an unscreened source After a period of 3 months or more from exposure, one may also develop symptoms of hepatitis C, like: Dark yellow urine Fatigue Fever Gray coloured stool Abdominal pain Joint pain Nausea Loss of appetite Pale skin and eyes On noticing any of the above symptoms, consulting a doctor and getting a test for hepatitis C virus performed is recommended.

What is the main cause of Hepatitis C infection?

Hepatitis C is caused by HCV, which is a blood-borne virus and can be transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. Some of the most common causes of hepatitis C virus include: Organ transplants Sharing personal items like razors with an infected person Sharing needles Pregnancy – a mother infected with HCV can pass the infection to the baby Exposure to the blood of an infected person Using unsterilised equipment for a tattoo or a piercing

The Anti-HCV test is a diagnostic tool used to detect the presence of antibodies against the Hepatitis C virus in the blood. It is done through a simple blood test and can determine if an individual has been infected with HCV at some point in their life.

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Anti HCV Test

Q: How accurate is HCV antibody Test?

The HCV IgG test is a screening test with high accuracy in detecting the presence of hepatitis C antibodies. However, the HCV IgG test can be used to diagnose an active as well as past infection, as even after the virus has been treated and removed from the body, its antibodies may remain, leading to a false-positive result. That is why a doctor generally prescribes further testing after a positive HCV antibodies test result, to confirm whether an individual has an active infection or had it in the past.

Q: What does it mean if I test positive for hep C antibodies?

The hepatitis c virus antibody test screens for the presence of IgG antibodies in the blood, which the body produces to fight against the hepatitis C virus. Past hepatitis C infections that a person has recovered from can also account for the presence of these antibodies, which returns positive results for the HCV IgG hepatitis c virus antibody test. On receiving a positive result, one should consult their doctor, who would be able to prescribe further testing for a confirmed diagnosis and suggest a treatment plan accordingly.

Q: What are the early warning signs of Hep C?

Generally, there are no early signs or symptoms of the hepatitis C virus. Cases of acute hep C infection, after 1-3 months of exposure to the virus, may show some flu-like symptoms, like: Stomach or joint pain Clay-coloured stools Dark urine Fever Fatigue Signs of jaundice Appetite loss Nausea and vomiting On the other hand, the infection may go undiagnosed and untreated for a long time, leading to a case of chronic hep C, which may cause enough damage to the liver, leading to symptoms of liver diseases, like: Easy bleeding and bruising Jaundice Fatigue Loss of appetite Itchy skin Swelling in the legs Unexplained weight loss Confusion or slurred speech Angiomas

Q: Is the presence of anti-HCV indicative of past infection and immunity?

The HCV IgG is a type of antibody produced by the body in response to the presence of hepatitis C. Even after the infection has cleared, the antibodies remain in the blood for a period of time. So, a positive result in an HCV IgG antibody test can indicate an active as well as past hepatitis C infection. Unlike antibodies produced to fight other conditions, HCV antibodies do not provide immunity, and a person who has successfully cleared the virus may also get re-infected if exposed.

Q: What happens if HCV IgG test results are positive?

The HCV IgG antibody blood test detects the presence of antibodies produced against the hepatitis C virus. A positive test result may be indicative of an active hepatitis C infection or of one having had the infection at some point in the past. On receiving positive results for the HCV IgG antibody blood test, it is important to consult a doctor, who, based on the individual’s risk factors, age, health, etc., will be able to prescribe confirmatory tests and accordingly devise a treatment plan.

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Test Name :	Anti HCV Test
Also Known as :	HCV IgG Test, HCV Antibody Test, Hepatitis C Test, HCV Blood Test
Sample Type :	Blood
Gender :	Both
Age group :	All Age Groups
Report Timeline :	Within 24hrs
This Test Includes :	HCV, IgG HCV,IgG Test Value Advise.. 1 Tests

Price :

₹ 1600

Anti HCV Test Includes:
1 Tests Know More

Description
- The HCV IgG Serum Test is performed to detect the presence of IgG antibodies in the body, which are produced to fight against the hepatitis C virus. The HVC IgG Serum Test can help differentiate between positive results and false-positive results for HCV obtained from initial antibody screening tests. Overview of the HCV IgG Serum Test The HCV IgG Serum Test is prescribed to confirm the presence of HCV-specific IgG antibodies. When one is infected by the ....Read More

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About Anti HCV Test

The HCV IgG Test is prescribed by doctors to detect the presence of HCV in at-risk individuals who are showing symptoms of the infection, like appetite loss, yellowing whites of the eyes or skin, fati

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

The HCV IgG test is one of the most common tests that are performed to detect the hepatitis C virus. The test looks for the presence of IgG antibodies, which are produced by the body to fight the virus, in the blood sample, and helps determine the presence of a past or current infection by hepatitis C. More tests may be prescribed on receiving a positive or reactive result, for a more comprehensive diagnosis.

Hepatitis C is an infection that can go undetected for a long period as most people do not develop any symptoms in the initial stages. If a person has contracted the virus, it may take at least 4-10 weeks for their body to develop antibodies against the hepatitis C virus, which a test may detect. In some cases, it may even take up to 6-9 months to develop enough antibodies that can be detected. In general, people who should undergo the test for the hepatitis C virus include those who have:

Shared drug-injecting equipment
Used medical equipment without sterilising
Been exposed to the blood of someone infected with the virus
Received blood from an unscreened source

After a period of 3 months or more from exposure, one may also develop symptoms of hepatitis C, like:

Dark yellow urine
Fatigue
Fever
Gray coloured stool
Abdominal pain
Joint pain
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Pale skin and eyes

On noticing any of the above symptoms, consulting a doctor and getting a test for hepatitis C virus performed is recommended.

The HCV IgG test is a screening test with high accuracy in detecting the presence of hepatitis C antibodies. However, the HCV IgG test can be used to diagnose an active as well as past infection, as even after the virus has been treated and removed from the body, its antibodies may remain, leading to a false-positive result. That is why a doctor generally prescribes further testing after a positive HCV antibodies test result, to confirm whether an individual has an active infection or had it in the past.

The hepatitis c virus antibody test screens for the presence of IgG antibodies in the blood, which the body produces to fight against the hepatitis C virus. Past hepatitis C infections that a person has recovered from can also account for the presence of these antibodies, which returns positive results for the HCV IgG hepatitis c virus antibody test. On receiving a positive result, one should consult their doctor, who would be able to prescribe further testing for a confirmed diagnosis and suggest a treatment plan accordingly.

Generally, there are no early signs or symptoms of the hepatitis C virus. Cases of acute hep C infection, after 1-3 months of exposure to the virus, may show some flu-like symptoms, like:

Stomach or joint pain
Clay-coloured stools
Dark urine
Fever
Fatigue
Signs of jaundice
Appetite loss
Nausea and vomiting

On the other hand, the infection may go undiagnosed and untreated for a long time, leading to a case of chronic hep C, which may cause enough damage to the liver, leading to symptoms of liver diseases, like:

Easy bleeding and bruising
Jaundice
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Itchy skin
Swelling in the legs
Unexplained weight loss
Confusion or slurred speech
Angiomas

Hepatitis C is caused by HCV, which is a blood-borne virus and can be transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. Some of the most common causes of hepatitis C virus include:

Organ transplants
Sharing personal items like razors with an infected person
Sharing needles
Pregnancy – a mother infected with HCV can pass the infection to the baby
Exposure to the blood of an infected person
Using unsterilised equipment for a tattoo or a piercing

The HCV IgG is a type of antibody produced by the body in response to the presence of hepatitis C. Even after the infection has cleared, the antibodies remain in the blood for a period of time. So, a positive result in an HCV IgG antibody test can indicate an active as well as past hepatitis C infection. Unlike antibodies produced to fight other conditions, HCV antibodies do not provide immunity, and a person who has successfully cleared the virus may also get re-infected if exposed.

The HCV IgG antibody blood test detects the presence of antibodies produced against the hepatitis C virus. A positive test result may be indicative of an active hepatitis C infection or of one having had the infection at some point in the past. On receiving positive results for the HCV IgG antibody blood test, it is important to consult a doctor, who, based on the individual’s risk factors, age, health, etc., will be able to prescribe confirmatory tests and accordingly devise a treatment plan.

Queries about this test

#1 Anti HCV test normal range

Ans: In general, a negative result means that no antibodies were detected, while a positive result means that antibodies were found in your blood.

#2 Anti HCV test means

Ans: The Anti-HCV test is a diagnostic tool used to detect the presence of antibodies against the Hepatitis C virus in the blood. It is done through a simple blood test and can determine if an individual has been infected with HCV at some point in their life.

#3 Anti HCV test positive means

Ans: A positive result means that your body has been exposed to Hepatitis C at some point in your life and that you have developed antibodies against the virus. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that you are currently infected with the virus.

#4 Anti HCV test full form

Ans: The full form of HCV is an antibody to hepatitis C virus".

#5 Anti HCV test in pregnancy

Ans: Pregnant women should be screened for Hepatitis C during their prenatal visits. If left untreated, maternal infection can lead to vertical transmission (transmission from mother to child).