Hepatitis C Virus (HCV Antibody)
Screens for hepatitis C exposure. Hepatitis C is now curable, which makes finding it worthwhile
Also known as Hepatitis C test, Anti-HCV, HCV antibody, HCV Antibody (Hepatitis C), Hepatitis C Virus antibodies (Anti HCV)
₹670/-₹900/-26% offFree collection on orders above ₹500/-
- Reports within
- 8 hours
- Parameter included
- 01see list
- Sample
- Blood
- Fasting
- Not needed
- Measures
- Antibodies to the hepatitis C virus in the blood
- Identifies
- Past or current hepatitis C infection
Collected at home
A trained phlebotomist visits at a time you pick, from the next hour
Sealed single-use kit
Opened in front of you, and carried to the lab under controlled conditions
Report within 8 hours
On WhatsApp and email, with any value outside the normal range highlighted
What is the HCV test?
The HCV antibody test (anti-HCV) looks for antibodies your immune system makes against the hepatitis C virus. It is a blood test with one result: non-reactive or reactive. Antibodies usually appear within 8 to 12 weeks of infection and stay for life, whether or not the virus is still present.
A non-reactive result means you have almost certainly never been infected, unless the exposure was in the last three months. A reactive result means you have been infected at some point. Around one in four people clear the virus on their own; the rest carry it silently and can develop cirrhosis or liver cancer over decades. A doctor will order an HCV RNA test to check whether the virus is still active. If it is, hepatitis C is now cured in most people with 8 to 12 weeks of tablets.
No fasting is needed. The sample is collected at home and the report arrives in 8 hours.
HCV parameters1 measured
HCV antibody
Non-reactive
Antibodies against the hepatitis C virus, positive after exposure at any time, with a further test needed to tell a cleared infection from an active one
Reference ranges are the lab's defaults for adults and are printed on the report beside every value
How to prepare
- No fasting is needed.
- Take your usual medicines as normal.
- If the possible exposure was less than 12 weeks ago, tell the phlebotomist; a repeat test or an HCV RNA test may be needed.
Who should take it
Anyone who received a blood transfusion or had surgery or dialysis before routine donor screening. People who have injected drugs, even once. Anyone with a tattoo, piercing or shave from an unregulated place. Healthcare workers after a needle-stick. Partners and household contacts of someone with hepatitis C. People living with HIV. Anyone with persistently raised SGPT or SGOT, unexplained fatigue, or a family member with cirrhosis. Pregnant women, so a baby can be followed up if needed.
Before the visit
Tell your doctor if you have had hepatitis C treatment in the past. The antibody stays positive after cure, so a reactive result in a treated person does not mean the virus is back.
Why take the HCV test?
- It is curable: Finding hepatitis C means a short course of tablets can clear it before the liver is scarred.
- Silent infection: Most people have no symptoms for 10 to 20 years, so testing is the only way to know.
- Past transfusions or procedures: Blood, dialysis, dental or surgical procedures with reused equipment are the commonest routes in India.
- Shared needles or razors: Even one exposure years ago is enough to warrant a test.
- Raised liver enzymes: An unexplained high SGPT needs a hepatitis B and C screen.
Questions about the HCV test
What is the HCV antibody test used for?
It screens for hepatitis C by finding antibodies your body made against the virus. It is the first test for anyone who may have been exposed, and it matters because hepatitis C is now curable with a short course of tablets.
Do I need to fast for a hepatitis C test?
No fasting is needed. Eat, drink and take your medicines as usual. The antibody level is not affected by food, the time of day or a recent meal, so any slot works.
What sample is taken and how does home collection work?
A small blood sample from the arm. A trained phlebotomist comes to your home with a sealed single-use kit, collects the sample and takes it to the lab.
What is a normal anti-HCV result?
The result is reported as non-reactive or reactive. Non-reactive is normal and means no hepatitis C antibodies were found. Reactive means antibodies are present and you have been infected at some point.
What does a reactive hepatitis C antibody result mean?
You have been infected with hepatitis C at some time. About a quarter of people clear the virus on their own but keep the antibody for life. Your doctor will order an HCV RNA test to see if the virus is still active; if it is, treatment cures most people in 8 to 12 weeks.
Who should get tested for hepatitis C?
Anyone who had a transfusion, dialysis or surgery before routine donor screening, has ever injected drugs, had a tattoo or shave from an unregulated place, lives with someone who has hepatitis C, or has unexplained raised liver enzymes. Once is usually enough unless the exposure continues.
How long does the HCV antibody report take?
8 hours from collection. The report is sent on WhatsApp and email. A reactive result is not a diagnosis on its own, so take it to a doctor for the follow-up HCV RNA test.
I was exposed last month. Is it too early to test?
Possibly. Antibodies take 8 to 12 weeks to appear, so a non-reactive result within that window does not rule out infection. Tell your doctor the date of exposure; they may order an HCV RNA test, which finds the virus within one to two weeks, or repeat the antibody test after three months.
I was treated for hepatitis C years ago. Why is my antibody still reactive?
The antibody stays for life after infection, whether you cleared the virus yourself or with treatment. It does not mean the virus is back. An HCV RNA test is the way to check that the cure has held.
Commonly tested together
Often on the same prescription
₹320/-₹400/-20% off
What happens after you book
- A phlebotomist is assigned and reaches you in your chosen slot, as soon as the next hour
- The sample is collected with a sealed single-use kit and moved on a cold chain
- The report lands on WhatsApp and email within 8 hours