Finding the right tests…
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Emergency services available 24 x 7
Finding the right tests…
Molecular
HCV RNA quantitative measures how many copies of hepatitis C virus genetic material are in your blood, giving an actual viral load number rather than the yes-or-no answer of an antibody test. It matters most once an antibody test has come back reactive, since antibodies alone can't tell a current infection from one your immune system cleared years ago - this test settles that by checking whether the virus itself is still present. It's also the test your doctor tracks through antiviral treatment, checked again after therapy ends to confirm the virus stays undetectable, a result called sustained virologic response. Modern antiviral regimens cure a high share of people who complete treatment, and this test confirms that cure.
This test reports a viral load number if HCV RNA is found, or 'undetected' if it isn't. A detectable result confirms you currently have hepatitis C, since the antibody test alone can't distinguish a current infection from a past one that already cleared. An undetectable result before treatment, in someone with a positive antibody test, generally means the infection has already resolved on its own. An undetectable result 12 or more weeks after finishing antiviral treatment is called a sustained virologic response, which is considered a cure.
An HCV antibody test tells your doctor that your immune system has encountered the virus at some point, but that's true whether the infection is active right now or resolved years ago. This test settles the question by checking for the virus's actual genetic material, present only during current infection.
Before treatment starts, the viral load sets a baseline your doctor can compare later results against. Research on people treated with modern direct-acting antivirals has found the starting viral load doesn't strongly predict who will respond, so its main job at this stage is confirming active infection rather than forecasting the outcome.
The real marker of success is what happens after therapy stops. A result showing no detectable HCV RNA twelve or more weeks after finishing treatment is called a sustained virologic response, and it's treated as a cure - the virus doesn't return in the large majority of people who reach it.
Modern antiviral medicines cure up to 90% of people for some hepatitis C genotypes, taken by mouth over a period your doctor sets based on your genotype and health history. This test is what confirms that outcome in your case, rather than treatment being judged on symptoms alone, since hepatitis C often causes no symptoms even when the virus is active.
The antibody test only shows that your immune system has encountered HCV at some point, which could be a current infection or one that already cleared. This test checks for the virus's actual genetic material, which confirms whether the infection is active right now.
In someone with a positive antibody test, an undetectable viral load before treatment usually means the infection already cleared on its own, without needing antiviral medicine. Your doctor will confirm this interpretation based on your full history.
It's an undetectable HCV RNA result measured 12 or more weeks after finishing antiviral treatment, and it's considered a cure. The virus doesn't return in the large majority of people who reach this result.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
Not necessarily. Research on modern direct-acting antivirals has found the starting viral load doesn't strongly predict treatment outcome, so it's used mainly to confirm active infection and set a baseline rather than to forecast success.
Yes, typically at least once after treatment finishes to confirm the virus has stayed undetectable and treatment has worked.
Yes, hepatitis C often causes no noticeable symptoms even while the virus is active, which is part of why viral testing rather than symptoms alone is used to confirm infection and cure.