Table 2.

Summary of laboratory result and interpretation

Anti-HCV Ab	HCV RNA	Interpretation
Negative	Detectable	• Acute hepatitis C  • Chronic hepatitis C in immunocompromised or exceptional cases
Detected	Undetectable	• Spontaneous resolved*  • Treated infection
Detected	Detected	• Chronic infection  • Acute infection (clinical history of exposure may help to distinguish)
Negative	Undetectable	• No evidence of hepatitis C infection**

^*may require repeat HCV RNA testing to ensure the clearance

^**may require repeat HCV RNA testing if high clinical suspicious of early infection within 1–2 weeks of acquisition is suspected.