Table 3.

Proposed diagnostic criteria for acute HCV infection

Major criteria	Seroconversion of anti-HCV antibody from negative to positive reaction
	Presence of serum HCV RNA from a previously negative reaction of anti-HCV antibody
Ancillary criteria	Markedly-elevated serum ALT levels (>5–20 times of the upper limit of normal)
	Known or suspected exposure to HCV during the past 6 months
	Clinical symptoms of acute illness, including fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue, dark urine, and jaundice
	Sudden onset of liver disease
	Excluding other causes of acute liver injuries

HCV, hepatitis C virus; RNA, ribonucleic acid; ALT, alanine aminotransferase.