What Does It Mean If the Hepatitis C Virus Antibody Test Is Positive?

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, making them contagious. The infection may present no symptoms initially and can take many years to develop into liver cirrhosis. Early diagnosis can be made through testing for viral antigens or viral RNA, but the currently used tests cannot directly detect the virus. The Hepatitis C virus can be transmitted from mother to child, and the risk of transmission during delivery is higher.
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