Question
What does it mean if there is a hepatitis C virus antibody detected in the patient’s blood?
Answer
A positive Hepatitis C virus antibody test indicates that the patient has previously been infected with or is currently infected with the Hepatitis C virus. This antibody does not have a neutralizing or eliminating effect on the virus, so it does not provide protection. The blood of patients with a positive Hepatitis C antibody test contains the Hepatitis C virus, making them contagious.