How to Read Hep C RNA Tests

The Hepatitis C virus is an RNA virus that commonly causes chronic infection of the liver. The virus is blood-borne and is transmitted via blood contaminated needle puncture of the skin, such as with intravenous drug use or as may occur in an occupational accident. It may also be transmitted via blood transfusion, though this mode of transmission is rare due to careful screening of blood products. There are many serological tests for HCV infection however, tests of HCV RNA help to distinguish active infection from past infection in that an active infection will demonstrate positive HCV RNA.

Instructions

• 1

  Check the name and date of the HCV lab results. This is an important first step in interpreting any laboratory data as you must be sure you are examining the results of the correct patient before proceeding.

• 2

  Look at the laboratory report and determine whether you have received HCV RNA results that are qualitative or quantitative. A qualitative result will read either positive or negative while a qualitative result will be numeric. A qualitative result, also called the HCV viral load, is more useful for monitoring the effect of treatment.

• 3

  Interpret the results of the tests. A qualitative test that reads positive is indicative of an active Hepatitis C infection. It does not, however, tell you the amount of HCV that is present. Also, a negative qualitative test can either mean that the patient has never been infected, had a past infection, or has a low viral load. If you are provided a qualitative result, any number given as the HCV RNA indicates an active infection. For an inactive infection, rather than providing a number for the quantitative result, it will read "non-detectable."