Lab test · Hepatology
Hepatitis C Antibody (Anti-HCV)
Hepatitis C screening
- Blood sample
- No fasting
- Report within 24 hours
- Home collection
What this test is for
Hepatitis C screening
The anti-HCV test looks for antibodies that the body makes against the hepatitis C virus, which infects the liver. A positive result shows that you have been infected at some time, but it does not show whether the infection is still active. Hepatitis C often causes no symptoms for years, so testing is the main way to find it before it damages the liver.
Why a doctor may order it
- To screen anyone who may have been exposed to infected blood, for example through unsafe injections or a transfusion
- To look into raised liver enzymes, jaundice or long-term liver disease
- Before dialysis, surgery or some medical treatments
- For people who have ever injected drugs or shared needles, razors or toothbrushes
- As part of a hepatitis screen or a pre-marital check
How to prepare
Fasting: Not needed.
You can eat and drink as normal, and no special preparation is needed. Keep taking your usual medicines. If you think you were exposed very recently, tell your doctor, because antibodies can take weeks or months to appear.
At home
- Sample
- Blood sample
- How it works
- A trained collector takes a small blood sample from a vein in your arm at home, using a new sealed needle that is thrown away safely afterwards. The draw takes only a few minutes.
- Report
- Within 24 hours of collection.
What the results can mean
A negative (non-reactive) result usually means no hepatitis C infection, although a very recent infection may not show yet. A positive (reactive) result means you have had hepatitis C at some point, and a test for the virus itself, called HCV RNA, is needed to see whether the infection is still active. Antibodies usually stay positive even after the infection has cleared or been cured. Your doctor will explain the result and any next steps.
What's included
One test: Hepatitis C Antibody (Anti-HCV), from one blood sample.
Related tests
- Hepatitis C Viral Load (HCV RNA)This test looks for the genetic material (RNA) of the hepatitis C virus in your blood and measures how much is there.
- Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg)HBsAg is a protein on the surface of the hepatitis B virus.
- Liver Function Test (LFT)A liver function test is a group of blood tests that show how well your liver is working and whether it is inflamed or damaged.
- SGPT (Alanine Aminotransferase, ALT)SGPT, also called ALT (alanine aminotransferase), is an enzyme found mainly inside liver cells.
- HIV 1 and 2 Antibody TestThis blood test screens for antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2, the two types of human immunodeficiency virus.
- Anti-HBc Total (Hepatitis B Core Antibody)Past or current hepatitis B৳550
Questions people ask
Does a positive anti-HCV mean I have hepatitis C now?
Not necessarily. It shows you have been infected at some time. Some people clear the virus naturally, and antibodies remain after cure, so an HCV RNA test is needed to check for current infection.
Is hepatitis C curable?
Yes. Modern antiviral medicines can cure hepatitis C in most people. Your doctor or a liver specialist will advise whether treatment is right for you.
Is there a vaccine for hepatitis C?
No. There is a vaccine for hepatitis B but not for hepatitis C, so avoiding contact with infected blood is the main protection.
How is hepatitis C spread?
It spreads mainly through infected blood, for example through unsafe injections, reused needles, unscreened blood transfusions or shared razors. It can also pass from mother to baby, and less often through sex.
How much does a Anti-HCV test cost in Dhaka?
With Mukti Health the price is ৳450, and the sample is collected at your home in Dhaka. You see the price again before you confirm the booking in the Mukti Health app.
Can I do the Anti-HCV test at home in Dhaka?
Yes. Book it in the Mukti Health app and a trained sample collector comes to your home in Dhaka to take the blood sample. You do not need to go to a laboratory.
How long does the Anti-HCV report take?
The report is usually ready within 24 hours of the sample being collected.