Hepatitis C Antibody

Routine annual

also anti-hcv

What it isAn antibody to hepatitis C virus that appears within weeks of exposure and persists indefinitely after recovery or successful treatment.

DoesScreens for past or current hepatitis C infection.

GoodA negative anti-HCV rules out hepatitis C exposure.

BadPositive anti-HCV prompts confirmatory HCV RNA testing to distinguish active infection (treatable, curable) from resolved past infection.

Standard

Negative.

Optimal

Negative (lower is good)

Modifiers

Persists after treatment-induced cure.

How to optimize

Lifestyle: Avoid blood and bodily fluid exposure.
Diet: Avoid alcohol if active infection.
Supplements: —
Peptides: —
Drugs: Direct-acting antivirals (sofosbuvir-based regimens) cure most hepatitis C in 8–12 weeks.

within Infections