Hepatitis C Virus Test'With Confirmation | Confidential Testing

What

Tests for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in the blood.

Who

Must be 18+ years of age to purchase.

How

Blood

Where

Find a location near you

Schedule an appointment, then visit a Quest Diagnostics patient service center location.

About the Test

HCV is a viral infection that affects the liver. It is not understood why, but some people can be infected with HCV and fight off the infection; others will carry the virus for the rest of their lives, without symptoms, until liver disease is advanced. Infection triggers production of specific antibodies to fight illness. The Hepatitis C Test checks for HCV-specific IgG antibodies in your blood to determine whether you have been infected with HCV. A positive test result does not necessarily indicate you have an active HCV infection; additional testing with a Hepatitis C RNA Test is required to confirm active infection.1 This confirmation test measures the level of HCV in the blood (viral load). The level of Hepatitis C RNA can tell you if you have a current or past HCV infection. This information can help your healthcare provider interpret your results and monitor your response to treatment.

The liver is a vital organ that performs multiple bodily functions, including filtering blood, storing vitamins and minerals, breaking down substances, and producing bile, which is required for digestion. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by contact with contaminated blood or blood products. HCV can lead to significant impairment of liver function and chronic health conditions, such as severe liver scarring (cirrhosis) and liver cancer.

The Hepatitis C Test measures HCV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in the blood. Antibodies are chemicals released in blood when someone becomes infected with the virus. A negative HCV test result indicates that a person is not currently infected with HCV. A positive HCV result indicates you may have been infected with HCV at some point in time; follow-up testing is required to check the amount of HCV that is in the blood. This additional test is called Hepatitis C RNA Test and is used to confirm current or past HCV infection and may help healthcare professionals monitor the response to treatment.

If you are experiencing symptoms of liver disease or have been exposed to HCV, our Hepatitis C Test with Confirmation can be used to provide an HCV diagnosis or monitor treatment of HCV infection.

Note: The CDC recommends that all adults should be tested at least once. Testing is also recommended based on risk factors.¹ Click here for the complete CDC recommendations for Hepatitis C testing.

Those infected with HCV may have no symptoms (asymptomatic) or experience only mild symptoms. Our Hepatitis C Test with Confirmation may be helpful in identifying if you have past or current infection with HCV.

Signs and symptoms of HCV may include the following:

Abdominal pain
Fatigue
Fever
Dark yellow urine
Light-colored or clay-colored stools
Joint pain
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice)
Mild to severe chronic liver disease
Cirrhosis (a disease that scars the liver)
Liver cancer
Depression
Abnormal liver test results

These symptoms can be associated with other conditions. Regardless of your results, please discuss your symptoms with your doctor.

You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a test on questhealth.com. This test requires specimen collection at a Quest Diagnostics location or through Quest Mobile™, a convenient option for in-home sample collection*. Collection not available in AK, AZ, or HI.

*Check your zip code here for service availability, not available in all locations.

You do not need to do anything special to prepare for the sample collection. Fasting is not required for this test.

After you provide your specimen, it generally takes a few business days to process and release your test results. However, processing times may vary. Your test results will be available in a clear and easy-to-read report. If your results indicate possible infection, you will receive an alert call from an independent healthcare coordinator. Independent physicians are available to discuss questions or concerns you may have regarding your results.

If your test result is positive, the lab will perform an additional confirmation test on the sample you have already provided at no extra cost to you. This helps to validate the positive result before it is reported, per standard recommended guidelines.

How it works

questhealth.com offers 100+ consumer-initiated Quest Diagnostics lab tests to empower you to have more control over your health journey. Choose from a variety of test types that best suit your needs.

In-person
In-home sample collection

1

Buy a lab test

No doctor visit is required for purchase.

Shop now

2

Register your test
& schedule an appointment

Book a visit to one of 2000+ Quest locations.

Register your test

3

Visit Quest for sample collection

Complete your test sample collection during your scheduled appointment.

4

Get fast results

Access results online as soon as they’re available. You will be emailed when they are ready. Discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost. Treatment options may be available.

Hepatitis A, B, and C are 3 viral infections that target one of the body’s most important organs—the liver. Though they share the same destination, they differ in significant ways.

FAQs

Who should be tested for HCV?

According to the CDC, all adults, pregnant women, and people with risk factors should get tested for hepatitis C.

What are the risk factors for contracting HCV?

Infection is most frequently passed through injection drug use. However, some patients have contracted HCV through blood transfusions and organ transplants before screening became standard practice.

According to the CDC, the following persons have an increased risk of contracting hepatitis C:

• People living with HIV
• People who are currently or have a history of using injection drugs, including those who injected only once many years ago
• Healthcare, emergency medical, and public safety personnel exposed to HCV-positive blood through needle sticks, sharps, or mucosal exposures
• Children born to mothers with HCV infection
• People notified that blood was donated by a person later found to have tested positive for HCV

Additionally, people who have received the following treatments have an increased risk of developing hepatitis C:

• Maintenance hemodialysis
• Clotting factor concentrates (before 1987)
• Transfusion of blood or blood components (before July 1992)
• Organ transplantation (before July 1992)

Can I use my FSA or HSA funds to purchase tests at questhealth.com?

You may be able to use your FSA or HSA funds to purchase lab tests at questhealth.com. Please review your FSA/HSA plan or check with a tax professional to confirm specific requirements for individual eligibility.

Our references

¹CDC testing recommendations for hepatitis C virus infection. CDC. cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/guidelinesc.htm

Hepatitis C overview. CDC. cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/HepatitisCOverview.htm

Tests purchased on questhealth.com are only for individuals who intend to pay directly for testing and do not want to submit a claim for reimbursement under their health insurance.

Hepatitis C Test With Confirmation