Anti-HCV (hepatits C)
Anti-HCV (total) is a summary determination of the level of IgM and IgG antibodies (immunoglobulins) to the hepatitis C virus. Antibodies are components of the human immune system aimed at "destroying" a specific foreign protein, which is the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Each type of antibody has its own period of appearance. IgM is characterized by the appearance in the acute phase of the disease - 4-6 weeks after infection. After six months, the level of IgM sharply decreases, at the same time the peak concentration of IgG, reflecting the chronic course of hepatitis reaches its peak. For accurate diagnosis it is necessary to know the total number of antibodies, because the clinical performance of hepatitis C does not clearly distinguish between acute and chronic stages. Therefore, the prescription of antibodies separately is ineffective.
Because of its availability and low cost, this method is necessary for preventive (screening) screening of persons at risk of hepatitis C infection.
These include:
- people who have received blood, blood products or organs prior to hepatitis C virus screening or where screening is not
- yet well established;
- current or former injecting drug users (even those who injected once many years ago);
- patients receiving long-term hemodialysis treatments;
- health care workers;
- people with HIV;
- people with abnormal liver test results or liver disease;
- infants born to infected mothers.
It should be remembered that the detection of antibodies to the virus in the blood is not evidence that the virus is in the body. Antibodies indicate the fact of contact between the organism and the pathogen. In case of a "positive" test result, a more thorough and reliable examination is necessary, which is PCR method of detecting the hepatitis C virus.
Read more about hepatitis "PECULIAR FEATURES OF LABORATORY EXAMINATION FOR VIRUS HEPATITIS B AND C".