What is the meaning of anti HCV? What is anti HCV positive? Nowadays, blood transfusions are tested against many diseases as well as the Hepatitis C virus, so the possibility of transmission of this virus is very low. The test for people suspected of hepatitis C, especially blood taken from blood donors, is called the Anti HCV test. Anti HCV is also the name given to antibodies developed against the Hepatitis C virus in the body of the person.
What Is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C, which causes inflammation of the liver tissue, is a virus. Hepatitis C virus infection, which causes severe damage to the liver and causes cirrhosis, occurs through the blood. The use of drugs or needles used more than once in non-sterilized tattoo devices is seen as the main factor in the transmission of the disease.
The disease, which can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby, is rarely transmitted sexually. Transmission by contact with other body fluids other than saliva, urine, and blood is also very rare. It is because the hepatitis C virus is only present in the blood.
However, for any reason, the blood can get into the body fluids and the disease can be transmitted. The virus, which is also found in menstrual blood, can be transmitted during contact with the blood. Besides, personal care products such as toothbrushes and razors, earrings, and non-sterilized manicure and pedicure tools used in hairdressers may also be involved in the transport of the disease as they may come into contact with blood. Look at “Hepatitis C Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment”.
What is Anti HCV?
Hepatitis C virus, which remains silent in the body until the last stages of the disease, does not show any symptoms, especially in acute hepatitis. In this case, it takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks to detect the hepatitis C virus in the body by tests. The most recent symptoms are fatigue, dyspepsia, and swelling and pain in the upper abdomen.
After the hepatitis C virus is transmitted to the body, the defense mechanism starts to produce antibodies by showing resistance against the virus. Anti HCV is the name given to antibodies developed by the Hepatitis C virus in the body of the infected person and the defense mechanism against the Hepatitis C virus. A positive anti-HCV test indicates that the person is infected by the virus. However, the test must be repeated several times to ensure positivity.
It is because approximately 30% of patients with HCV positive results have HCV negative results when the test is repeated. In some cases, the same level of positivity may be seen when the test is repeated after 3 or 4 weeks. If this test is positive, the PCR test is used to determine the amount of HCV RNA. Although there are no drugs or preventive vaccines to eliminate the hepatitis C virus diagnosed with an anti-HCV test, studies are continuing, and many new drugs are added to the treatment protocols. The treatment aims to decrease the level of transaminase, which is known as high enzyme level, the destruction of HCV RNA in liver tissue, the complete recovery of liver disruption, the reduction of infectiousness, and the removal of symptoms if any.
Anti HCV Result
Hepatitis C is a type of RNA virus that may be mild in nature or life-long and cause many different diseases. Hepatitis C, which can be transmitted from person to person as a result of blood contamination to instruments such as needles, razors, toothbrushes used more than once, can be transmitted from the mother to the baby or as a result of sexual intercourse. Anti HCV testing should be performed in case of such risky situations. A positive anti-HCV test indicates that the person’s body produces antibodies to the Hepatitis C virus, or in other words, the person is infected with the Hepatitis C virus. A negative anti-HCV test indicates that the person has not been infected with the hepatitis C virus or that the body has not yet produced antibodies, even if it has been infected. Therefore, the test is repeated after a while to clarify the Anti-HCV result.
In case of suspicious situations such as sexual intercourse, blood contact, and needle sticking, an Anti HCV test should be performed to determine, if Anti HCV antibodies are produced in the body due to the Hepatitis C virus. Negative results of the Anti HCV test performed in the cases indicate that the person is not infected by the Hepatitis C virus.
However, a negative test does not indicate that the person has not been infected with the hepatitis C virus. In some cases, even if the person is infected, the test may result in negative, as the body does not yet produce an Anti-HCV antibody. Therefore, testing should be performed from the third month after suspected contacts. The test should be repeated after six months, if there is high doubt, and the physician considers it appropriate.
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