| HEPATITIS C VIRUS ANTIBODY (087-7202) | |
|---|---|
| Test Mnemonic: | HCV |
| Specimen Requirements: | |
| Test Included: | Hepatitis C virus antibody (IgG & IgM) |
| Collection: | Serum separator tube (SST) (Preferred), Plasma separator tube (PST) or red stopped vacutainer tube. |
| Minimum Volume: | 3 mL of blood |
| Storage/Transport: | Delivered to Sample Management within 2 hours of collection. |
| Specimen Preparation: | Allow specimen to clot completely at room temperature. Centrifuge to separate serum from cells within 2 hours of collection. Transfer serum from collection tube to labeled plastic transport tube. |
| Stability: | Room temperature for ≤ 8 hours, refrigerated for ≤ 48 hours, or frozen for indefinitely. (Avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles). |
| Causes for Rejection: | Specimens containing particulate matter, specimens containing sodium azide, heat-inactivated specimens, incomplete and/or incorrect sample identification, improper storage/transport, and gross hemolysis and lipemia |
| Reference Range: | By report (reports may vary based on instrumentation, patient age and sex) |
| Turnaround Time: | Routine: 8 hours, ASAP : 4 hours |
| Methodology: | Automated EIA- chemiluminence |
| Performed: | 24 hours a day; 7 days a week |
| Lab: | Clinical Chemistry |
| Clinical Indication: | This test detects both IgG and IgM to HCV. Recommended tests to determine acute hepatitis are: Hepatitis A virus antibody IgM, Hepatitis B Surface antigen, Hepatitis B Core antibody IgM and Hepatitis C virus antibody. Recommended tests to determine chronic hepatitis are Hepatitis B Surface antigen, Hepatitis B Core antibody IgM and Hepatitis C virus antibody. |
| CPT 4 Code: | 86803 Limited Coverage Test (NCD) |
| Note: | Previously positive patients do not require repeat testing. If the patient has no detectable antibody, it is recommended to wait at least three months before testing again. Tests on samples collected less than three months from the initial negative results will be cancelled, unless approved by a Chemistry Director or designee. Samples with a low level of antibody are confirmed by PCR testing. Refer to HCV Qualitative PCR. |
| When ordering tests for which Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement will be sought, physicians should only order tests that are medically necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of the patient. Components of the organ or disease panels may be ordered individually. The diagnostic information must substantiate all tests ordered and must be in the form of an ICD-10 code or its verbal equivalent. | |