What is indicated if a Hepatitis C screening result is "HCV RNA not detected" alongside "HCV antibody reactive"?

When a Hepatitis C screening result shows "HCV RNA not detected" alongside "HCV antibody reactive," it indicates that the person has been exposed to the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the past, as evidenced by the presence of antibodies. However, since the HCV RNA is not detected, this suggests that the virus is not currently replicating in the body.

In clinical practice, the presence of HCV antibodies can indicate a previous infection or a resolved infection. If the RNA is not detected, it typically means that there is no active viral replication occurring at this time, thus ruling out chronic Hepatitis C, where the virus would be actively present and replicating.

The most likely interpretation of these results is that the individual has cleared the virus naturally or through some intervention, making it likely that they do not currently have Hepatitis C. Therefore, the correct understanding of this lab result contextually aligns with the absence of chronic infection. The conclusion would rather be that the clinical picture denotes that there is no current Hepatitis C infection.

Nevertheless, appropriate follow-up with additional testing may be warranted to confirm the resolution of infection and rule out any potential false-positive antibody results.