Category
SEROLOGY/ IMMUNOLOGY
Sub Category
INFECTIOUS.
Synonyms/Aliases
HCV AB, QUALITATIVE; HCV AB, RAPID
Abbreviations
ANTI-HCV.
Type
INDIVIDUAL TEST.
2-4 HRS
2-4 HOURS.
Method
IMMUNOCHROMATOGRAPHY.
Temp
AMBIENT (8 HOURS), REFRIGERATED (7 DAYS), FROZEN (14 DAYS).
Setup
ALL WORKING DAYS.
Components Parameters
N/A
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY.
Patient preparation
N/A
Sample type
SERUM.
Container/ preservative
SERUM SEPARATOR TUBE (SST/ GEL) OR PLAIN (RED TOP) VACUTAINER.
Sample volume
2 ML.
Rejection criteria
LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE; INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE; HEMOLYZED, LIPEMIC, ICTERIC SAMPLES.
Other Instructions
CENTRIFUGE SST (SERUM GEL TUBES) WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. CENTRIFUGE RED TOP VACUTAINERS AND ALIQUOT SERUM WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. THE SEPARATION VIAL MUST BE LABELED WITH AT LEAST 2 PATIENT IDENTIFIERS AND THE SAMPLE TYPE.
Reference intervals
NEGATIVE.
Clinical Utility
SCREEN FOR ACUTE OR CHRONIC HEPATITIS C VIRUS (HCV) INFECTION. EVALUATION OF PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS & HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA WHICH CAN OCCUR AS COMPLICATIONS OF CHRONIC HCV INFECTION.
Test Limitations/ Confounders
ANTI-HCV USUALLY REMAINS POSITIVE FOR LIFE THEREFORE POSITIVITY DOES NOT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN RECENT VS. CHRONIC VS. RESOLVED INFECTION. FOR THIS DISTINCTION, HCV RNA/ NUCLEIC ACID TESTING IS REQUIRED AS A FOLLOW UP TEST. FALSE POSITIVE ANTI-HCV RESULTS CAN ALSO OCCUR.