What does a Hepatitis C screening result of "HCV antibody reactive" indicate?

A Hepatitis C screening result of "HCV antibody reactive" indicates the presence of antibodies against the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the blood. This result means that the individual has been exposed to the virus at some point. It does not definitively diagnose active infection, whether chronic or acute, but rather shows a presumptive diagnosis.

Following a reactive antibody test result, further testing is usually performed to confirm the diagnosis and determine whether the infection is current and active. This typically includes a quantitative HCV RNA test to assess the viral load and a genotype test to understand the type of virus.

The term "presumptive" is key because it suggests that further confirmation is needed to establish whether the individual is currently infected with chronic or acute hepatitis C. A reactive antibody test alone cannot delineate the stage of infection, hence the need for additional testing for a comprehensive evaluation.