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Anti HCV IgM

Liver
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Report in 120Hrs

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At Home

nofastingrequire

No Fasting Required

Details

The Anti-HCV IgM test detects IgM antibodies produced by the immune system in response to Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection

₹2,049₹3,000

32% OFF

Anti HCV IgM Test Information Guide

  • Why is it done?
    • Detects IgM antibodies produced in response to acute Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection
    • Identifies recent or acute HCV infection, typically appearing within 1-2 weeks after symptom onset
    • Differentiates acute infection from chronic HCV, as IgM typically disappears after 6-12 months
    • Ordered when patients present with acute hepatitis symptoms including jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, and elevated liver enzymes
    • Used for screening individuals with recent possible exposure to HCV through blood transfusion, needlestick injury, or sexual contact
    • Helps confirm initial anti-HCV screening results and provides timing information about infection
  • Normal Range
    • Negative or Non-Reactive: Normal result; indicates absence of IgM antibodies to HCV; typical in uninfected individuals
    • Positive or Reactive: Abnormal result; indicates recent or acute HCV infection; highly specific for acute hepatitis C
    • Equivocal or Borderline: Results close to the cutoff value; requires repeat testing or confirmation with additional testing
    • Units of Measurement: Optical Density (OD) values, or reported as Positive/Negative; cutoff values vary by laboratory and testing method (typically <0.8 OD negative; >1.0 OD positive)
    • Clinical Significance: Negative results essentially exclude acute HCV infection; positive results warrant immediate clinical evaluation and confirmation
  • Interpretation
    • Positive Anti-HCV IgM: Strongly suggests acute HCV infection; IgM appears early in infection (1-2 weeks post-exposure) and typically persists for 4-6 months; may indicate recent viral exposure or early-stage infection requiring immediate antiviral consideration
    • Negative Anti-HCV IgM with Positive Anti-HCV IgG: Indicates chronic HCV infection (infection >6 months duration); IgG persists indefinitely; suggests past infection that has progressed to chronic stage
    • Negative Anti-HCV IgM with Negative Anti-HCV IgG: No evidence of HCV infection; however, early acute infection (<1 week) may not yet produce detectable antibodies, and testing may need repetition
    • Factors Affecting Results: Immunocompromised patients may have delayed or weak IgM response; recent anti-HCV treatment may reduce titers; false positives possible in autoimmune diseases or contaminated samples; timing of test relative to infection onset crucial for accurate interpretation
    • Clinical Patterns: IgM appears 1-2 weeks post-infection, peaks at 4-12 weeks, then declines over 4-6 months; IgG appears after 4-10 weeks and persists; both positive during acute-to-chronic transition; persistently positive IgM may indicate reactivation or reinfection
  • Associated Organs
    • Primary Organ System: Liver (Hepatic system); HCV primarily infects and replicates within hepatocytes, causing inflammation and damage
    • Associated Conditions with Abnormal Results:
    • Acute Viral Hepatitis C: Characterized by acute inflammation, elevated transaminases (ALT, AST), jaundice, and constitutional symptoms
    • Acute Liver Failure: Severe cases may progress to fulminant hepatic failure with coagulopathy, encephalopathy, and multi-organ dysfunction
    • Chronic Hepatitis C: In patients with persistent positive IgM or both positive IgM and IgG; can lead to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and end-stage liver disease over 10-30 years
    • Cirrhosis: Advanced liver fibrosis with portal hypertension, ascites, and variceal bleeding risk
    • Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Increased risk in chronic HCV patients with cirrhosis; requires surveillance
    • Secondary Extrahepatic Manifestations: Cryoglobulinemia, glomerulonephritis, vasculitis, Sjögren's syndrome, lymphoma, and porphyria cutanea tarda
    • Potential Complications: Progressive liver damage, transplant requirement, liver failure, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy, and increased mortality risk without treatment
  • Follow-up Tests
    • Recommended Confirmatory Tests:
    • HCV RNA (PCR - Polymerase Chain Reaction): Gold standard for confirming active viral replication; detects viral RNA within days of infection; more sensitive than antibody testing
    • Anti-HCV IgG: Determines if infection has progressed from acute to chronic; helps differentiate timing of infection
    • HCV Genotype Testing: If HCV RNA positive; determines viral genotype (1-6) crucial for treatment planning and predicting response to antiviral therapy
    • HCV Viral Load (Quantitative HCV RNA): Measures viral RNA concentration; helps assess treatment eligibility and monitor therapy response
    • Liver Function Tests (LFTs): Including ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, albumin; assess degree of hepatic inflammation and synthetic function
    • Complete Blood Count (CBC): Evaluates for thrombocytopenia and anemia often seen in hepatic disease
    • Coagulation Studies (PT/INR): Assesses liver synthetic function and bleeding risk in acute hepatitis
    • Liver Ultrasound or FibroScan: Non-invasive imaging to assess liver structure, fibrosis degree, and screen for cirrhosis complications
    • Liver Biopsy: In selected cases; gold standard for fibrosis staging when non-invasive methods indeterminate
    • Monitoring Frequency: Acute HCV: Repeat testing at 2-4 weeks if initial negative with high clinical suspicion; weekly monitoring of viral load if treatment initiated; Post-treatment: HCV RNA at end of treatment and 12 weeks post-treatment to confirm sustained virologic response
  • Fasting Required?
    • Fasting Required: No
    • Special Preparation Instructions:
    • No specific dietary restrictions: Fasting not necessary; patient may eat and drink normally before testing
    • No medication adjustments required: Regular medications can be taken as prescribed; does not interfere with test accuracy
    • Hydration: Patient should be well-hydrated to facilitate blood draw and improve vein accessibility
    • Timing Considerations: Blood sample should be collected at any time; no specific time-of-day requirement; however, consistency helpful for serial monitoring
    • Sample Requirements: Standard venipuncture into serum separator tube (SST) or plain tube; 3-5 mL of blood typically required; refrigerate if specimen cannot be processed immediately
    • Important Timing Note: For acute infection suspicion, testing should ideally occur 1-2 weeks after suspected exposure for optimal IgM detection; earlier testing (<1 week) may be negative despite active infection

How our test process works!

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