Final answer:
The Hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) test detects antibodies in response to an infection with the Hepatitis C virus, not the virus itself. A positive result indicates past or present infection, prompting a confirmatory test for an accurate diagnosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) test is designed to test for the presence of Hepatitis C virus by detecting the antibodies that a person's immune system produces in response to the infection. When a person has Hepatitis C, their immune system creates specific antibodies to fight the virus, and these can be detected through the test. If the anti-HCV test is positive, it generally indicates that a person has been infected with the Hepatitis C virus at some point. It's important to note that this is an antibody test and does not test for the virus itself. If someone tests positive, a second, confirmatory test such as a nucleic acid test for HCV RNA is conducted to confirm the diagnosis, because the anti-HCV antibody test has a high sensitivity but low specificity, meaning there's a greater chance of a false positive.
General laboratory testing for hepatitis includes liver function tests that look at various enzymes and proteins in the blood, which may indicate a liver problem and lead to more comprehensive testing such as a hepatitis virus serological test panel for hepatitis viruses A, B, C, and sometimes D.