. HCV is a virus that infects the liver, causing inflammation, and can lead to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
. It is transmitted through contact with infected blood, typically via sharing needles, receiving contaminated blood products, or through contaminated medical equipment. Sexual transmission and transmission from mother to child are less common but can occur.
. Symptoms can include fatigue, jaundice, dark urine, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite. Many infections, especially in the early stages, may be asymptomatic, and chronic infections can persist without obvious signs for years.
. A positive HCV Ab is used to detect previous exposure to HCV. However, it does not distinguish between active or resolved infections.
. A positive HCV Ab is the first step in diagnosing an HCV infection that requires further testing, including HCV RNA test to confirm active infection, assess the viral load, potential liver damage, and guide treatment decisions.
. HCV Ab is crucial in screening in high-risk populations, such as people who inject drugs, those who received blood transfusions before screening, and healthcare workers.