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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Apr 1.
Published in final edited form as: Semin Oncol. 2014 Dec 31;42(2):191–206. doi: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2014.12.024

Table 3.

a. Recommendations for testing for HCV infection.

  • Injection-drug users and intranasal drug user

  • Children of HCV infected mothers

  • Patients undergoing hemodialysis

  • Incarcerated individuals

  • Individuals who received an unregulated tattoo or had other percutaneous exposure
b. Interpretation of HCV infection results.
Anti-
HCV
Ab		 HCV
RNA		 Interpretation Further Action
Neg Not
Assessed		 No HCV
antibody
detected		 If recent exposure is suspected, test for HCV RNA
Neg Pos Acute
Infection		 Provide with appropriate counseling, care and treatment
Pos Not
Assessed		 Presumptive
HCV infection		 Test for HCV RNA to identify current infection
Pos Pos Current HCV
infection		 Provide with appropriate counseling, care and treatment
Pos Neg False Positive Test with another HCV antibody assay to assess false positives
Pos Neg Resolved
Infection		 Follow up with appropriate counseling in certain situations*
*

If the subject is suspected to have recent HCV exposure within the past 6 months, or has clinical evidence of HCV infection, or if there is concern with the handling/storage of test specimens.