Interpretation of HCV screening tests
| Test outcome | Interpretation |
| HCV antibody not detected/negative | No prior exposure to HCV, hepatitis C negative. |
| HCV antibody detected/positive | Presumptive diagnosis of acute or chronic hepatitis C or past hepatitis C (either spontaneously cleared or cured with treatment). |
| HCV antibody detected/positive HCV RNA detected | Current HCV infection (acute or chronic hepatitis C infection or hepatitis C reinfection). |
| HCV antibody detected/positive HCV RNA not detected | No current HCV infection. Past hepatitis C (either spontaneously cleared or cured with treatment). False positive hepatitis C antibody test is more often seen in persons who have a low risk of infection. |
| HCV antibody not detected/negative HCV RNA detected | Current HCV infection (acute or chronic hepatitis C infection or hepatitis C reinfection). False negative hepatitis C antibody test associated with HIV, renal dialysis, organ transplantation and immunosuppression. |
HCV, hepatitis C virus.