Hepatitis C antibody testing 

• Hepatitis C antibody testing is performed as the initial screening test (4.9mL brown capped gel tube). ​

Hepatitis C RNA PCR

• If the patient is already known to be HCV antibody positive, please send HCV RNA quantitative PCR to confirm active infection (9mL (or 2 x 2.6mL) red cap EDTA tubes).​
• The lab will reflexively test HCV PCR on all new HCV antibody positive samples.​

Refer in-patients who are hepatitis C PCR positive (active infection) to the Hepatitis C team, for consideration of inpatient treatment or outpatient follow up​.

Do not refer patients who are hepatitis C antibody positive with a negative PCR as this suggests they have cleared the infection. No active follow up is required unless there is established liver disease.

• Treatment of HCV is well tolerated and highly effective
• Almost 100% of infections are cured by tablets taken once daily for 8-12 weeks.
• All patients with evidence of active HCV infection should be referred for consideration of antiviral treatment, particularly as this reduces risk of onwards transmission.

To refer for consideration of inpatient treatment please contact the HCV team:​

RIE site referrals: RIE.HepatitisC@nhs.scot​

Western general site referrals:Loth.WGHHepatitisCTeam@nhs.scot

When prescribing new medications to patients on treatment for hepatitis C please use this HCV drug interaction checker 

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1. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary on HCV
2. EASL 2018 HCV treatment guidelines