Serology testing typically begins with blood testing to detect the presence of antibodies to the HCV, using an enzyme immunoassay. If this test is positive, a confirmatory test is then performed to verify the immunoassay and to determine the viral load. A recombinant immunoblot assay is used to verify the immunoassay and the viral load is determined by an HCV RNA polymerase chain reaction. If there is no RNA and the immunoblot is positive, it means that the person tested had a previous infection but cleared it either with treatment or spontaneously; if the immunoblot is negative, it means that the immunoassay was wrong. It takes about 6–8 weeks following infection before the immunoassay will test positive. Several tests are available as point-of-care testing (POCT), which can provide results within 30 minutes.
Serology testing typically begins with blood testing to detect the presence of antibodies to the HCV using an enzyme immunoassay If this test is positive a confirmatory test is then performed to verify the immunoassay and to determine the viral load A recombinant immunoblot assay is used to verify the immunoassay and the viral load is determined by an HCV RNA polymerase chain reaction If there is no RNA and the immunoblot is positive it means that the person tested had a previous infection but cleared it either with treatment or spontaneously; if the immunoblot is negative it means that the immunoassay was wrong It takes about 6–8 weeks following infection before the immunoassay will test positive Several tests are available as point-of-care testing (POCT) which can provide results within 30 minutes