If the virus is present, the test can determine how much is in your blood. The viral load is the amount of virus in your blood.
The HCV RNA PCR test can also assist your doctor in determining the best way to treat the virus and reduce viral load. Giving you the test before and during treatment allows your doctor to see how your body responds to various treatments.
How to do testing –
A blood sample will be taken for analysis by a healthcare provider.
Inform them ahead of time if you are sensitive to certain needles or have ever fainted at the sight of blood. They can provide you with a snack to reduce your chances of fainting.
The needle may sting slightly as it enters your skin, and you may experience bruising at the site of the draw for a few days.
Results are typically available within a few days to a few weeks.
How does it work –
The HCV RNA PCR test is carried out using a technique known as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This process can be approached in two ways: qualitatively or quantitatively.
Qualitative analysis
This test is frequently used to diagnose HCV. It confirms the presence of the virus in your body but does not reveal the amount of virus present.
The qualitative test is frequently used as the second test by a doctor to confirm the presence of HCV in the blood. It is usually performed after the HCV antibody test.
The antibody test determines whether your body is producing antibodies to combat an HCV infection. If you test positive for HCV antibodies, your doctor will confirm and measure the amount of HCV in your blood using HCV RNA PCR testing.
A transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) test, which is similar to a qualitative test, may also be recommended by your doctor. According to some research, it is a much more sensitive detection test for HCV. If the PCR test yields sufficient results, your doctor may not believe it is necessary for you.
Quantitative examination
This test determines the concentration of HCV in your blood in international units per milliliter (IU/mL). This figure indicates whether you have a high or low viral load.
The quantitative test can be used to track the amount of HCV in your blood over time or to assess your response to treatment aimed at lowering your viral load.
The virus is considered undetectable once the measurement of your viral load drops to 15 IU/mL or less. At this point, the qualitative test can determine whether the virus is completely gone from your body or if only a trace remains.
What the qualitative findings imply –
The qualitative results show that you have HCV in your blood. The outcome of the test will be either “detected” or “undetected.”
“Detected” indicates that the virus is present in your blood. “Undetected” means you don’t have the virus in your blood or only have a trace of it that this test can’t detect.
Even if your viral load has significantly decreased due to treatment, the qualitative test results may still be positive.
What the quantitative findings imply
The quantitative test results show how much HCV is in your blood. This number assists your doctor in determining whether you have a high or low viral load.
Measuring your viral load before treatment enables your doctor to monitor it during and after treatment.
The viral load test does not indicate the severity of your HCV infection or cirrhosis. To learn more about how an HCV infection has affected your liver, your doctor will need to take a biopsy, or tissue sample, from your liver.
What happens next –
If your doctor finds HCV, they will work with you to develop a treatment plan.
The goal of treatment is to lower the viral load until the virus is completely eradicated from your body. During treatment, your doctor may repeat these tests to monitor your progress.
If your doctor believes the virus has harmed your liver, he or she may refer you to a specialist for further treatment.