Hepatitis C Virus Antibody Screening Flow Chart

Outline Version

History of positive test for hepatitis C virus antibody:

• Perform confirmatory test for viremia.
  • If positive: Individual patient care decisions regarding counseling, further testing and potential treatment options are necessary. These should be based upon current literature or performed within approved research protocols.
  • If negative: Patient unlikely to have chronic hepatitis C. Consider RIBA to rule out false positive for Ab.

No history of positive test for hepatitis C virus antibody:

• Presence or history of risk factors listed in the VA HCV Antibody Screening Guidelines
• If none: low priority for HCV antibody screening; not recommended unless at patient's request
• If present: recommend:
  1) Counseling for risk behaviors
  2) Screening for HCV antibody (eg EIA)
  3) Measure ALT if not yet done
  • If HCV Positive: Perform confirmatory test for viremia
    • If positive: Individual patient care decisions regarding counseling, further testing and potential treatment options are necessary. These should be based upon current literature or performed within approved research protocols.
    • If negative: Patient unlikely to have chronic hepatitis C. Consider RIBA to rule out false positive for Ab.
  • If HCV Negative: Patient unlikely to have chronic hepatitis C.