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Test Code HCVAB Hepatitis C Virus (Anti-HCV) Antibody [LAB868]

Test Method

Chemiluminescent sandwich principle: Roche cobas Pro

Performance

Testing is performed 7 days a week Monday through Sunday.

Routine specimen requests are completed the same day upon arrival to the laboratory.

Stat specimen requests are completed within 4 hours of receipt. 

Useful For

The hepatitis C virus (HCV), first identified in 1989, is a leading cause  of liver disease and a major healthcare concern. The most recent estimates of disease burden show an increase in seroprevalence over the last 15 years to 2.8 %, equating to > 185 million infections worldwide. HCV is a member of the Flaviviridae family and has a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome. Currently over 60 subtypes have been identified and these have been classified into 7 genotypes (1‑7). Due to the high rate of asymptomatic infections, clinical diagnosis is difficult and diagnostic assays are of major importance. Infection with HCV can lead to acute and chronic hepatitis disease. Approximately 70‑85 % of HCV infections progress to chronic disease, although this varies according to patient gender, age, race and immune status.2,5 Chronic HCV infection may lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Reference Values

Nonreactive

 

Reactive results are sent for confirmation testing by PCR methodology. See Hepatitis C Virus HCV RNA Detection and Quantification by RT-PCR (HCVPCR) for more information. 

Performing Laboratory

UnityPoint Finley Hospital

Specimen Requirements

  1. Red top or Gold top serum is the specimen of choice. 
  2. Gel tubes are acceptable.
  3. EDTA and lithium heparin plasma are also acceptable specimen types. 
  4. Confirmation testing for reactive results requires either serum or EDTA plasma.
  5. Hepatitis C Antibody specimens are stable for 3 days at 20-25°C, 21 days at 2-8°C, and 3 months at -20°C.

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