Hepatitis C 
Laboratory Testing
Online Serology Training - Hepatitis A–E
HCV Infection Testing for
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Reference Chart for Interpretation
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Signal-to-Cut–Off Ratios for Commercially Available Assays
CDC has recommended that a person be considered to have serologic evidence of HCV infection only after an anti-HCV screening-test-positive result has been verified by a more specific serologic test (e.g., RIBA) or a nucleic acid test (NAT). This more specific, supplemental testing is necessary, particularly in populations with a lower prevalence of disease, to identify and exclude false positive screening test results. However, currently, the majority of laboratories report positive anti-HCV results based on a positive screening assay alone.
The recommended anti-HCV testing algorithm has been expanded to include an option that uses the signal-to-cut–off (s/co) ratios of screening-test--positive results. This can serve as an alternative to a supplemental test in some circumstances, minimizing the number of specimens that require supplemental testing and providing a result that has a high probability of reflecting the person's true antibody status.
Signal-to-cut–off ratios are calculated by dividing the optical density (OD) value of the sample being tested by the OD value of the assay cut-off for that run. Analysis of enzyme immunoassay and chemiluminescence assay data indicates that s/co ratios can be used to predict supplemental test-positive results. A specific s/co ratio can be identified for each test that would predict a true antibody-positive result (as defined by the results of supplemental testing) ≥95% of the time, regardless of the anti-HCV prevalence or characteristics of the population being tested.
Implementation of these recommendations will provide more reliable results for physicians and their patients, so that further counseling and clinical evaluation are limited to those confirmed to have been infected with HCV. This is especially critical for persons being tested for HCV infection for the first time, for persons being tested in non-clinical settings, and for those being tested to determine the need for medical referral. Implementation of these recommendations also will improve public health surveillance systems.
| Screening Test Kit Name |
Manufacturer | Assay Format | Signal-to-cut–off ratio predictive of a true positive ≥ 95% of the time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ortho HCV Version 3.0 ELISA Test System | Ortho | EIA (Enzyme Immunoassay) |
≥ 3.8 |
| Abbott HCV EIA 2.0 | Abbott | EIA (Enzyme Immunoassay) |
≥ 3.8 |
| VITROS Anti-HCV | Ortho | CIA (Chemiluminescennt Immunoassay) |
≥ 8.0 |
| AxSYM Anti-HCV | Abbott | MEIA (Microparticle Immunoassay) |
≥ 10.0 |
| Architect Anti-HCV | Abbott | CMIA (Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay) |
≥ 5.0 |
| Advia Centaur HCV | Bayer | CIA (Chemiluminescennt Immunoassay) |
≥ 11.0 |
Guidelines for Laboratory Testing and Result Reporting
Guidelines
for Laboratory Testing and Result Reporting of Antibody to Hepatitis C Virus
MMWR 2003;52(RR-3)
Letter to Abbott
Architect Anti-HCV
Letter to Bayer Advia Centaur HCV
Page last modified: July 8, 2008
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Division of Viral Hepatitis
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
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