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Hepatitis C Surface Antibody | | Updated | 10/5/2009 | | Other Names | Anti-HCV, HCV Ab, Anti-HCV screen | | How to Order | Check the Hepatitis C Antibody – Screen Only box on the Virology/Immunology Request Form (form 42) and complete the reason for test under Billing Information Only | | Availability | All clients | | Methodology | Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) | | Performed | Monday, Wednesday, Friday | |
Time to Reporting
| 1 to 3 working days after receipt of specimen | |
CPT Code
| 86803 |
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Specimen Collection Details
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Collection
| One 7 ml red top tube or serum separator tube (SST). Also acceptable are specimens collected with anticoagulants such as EDTA, sodium citrate or heparin. Samples collected using anticoagulant should be filled as per manufacturer’s instructions to avoid improper dilution. | |
Optimal Volume
| Blood: 5 ml; Serum 1.5 ml | |
Minimum Volume
| Blood: 3 ml; Serum 0.5 ml | |
Handling
| After blood clots, keep specimen refrigerated until transport. DO NOT FREEZE. If possible remove the serum from the clot as soon as possible. Sample must be tested within 7 days of collection. | |
Transport
| Refrigerated at 2-8° C. | |
Rejection Criteria
| Specimens contaminated with bacteria or that have been heat-treated. | |
Comments
| This test is intended for the detection of antibody to hepatitis C virus in human serum or plasma. Hepatitis C virus is now known to be the causative agent for most, if not all, blood-borne non A and non B hepatitis. Anti-HCV screening test results with signal/cutoff ratios greater than or equal to 3.8 usually (about 95% of the time) confirm positive. Fewer than 5 of every 100 samples with these results are usually false-positive. |
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