There are several blood tests that can be done to determine if you have been infected with HCV. The first test your doctor probably will perform is called an "antibody" test, to see if your body has developed antibodies to HCV. (Antibodies are particles your body makes to fight off infections.) This test is sometimes called an anti-HCV test. A positive result means that, at some point in your life, you were exposed to the hepatitis C virus, and you developed antibodies to fight off the virus. (Another name for this antibody test is EIA.) If your hepatitis C antibody test is positive, your doctor will perform another test to see if you still have the hepatitis C virus in your body. This test is called a hepatitis C viral load test (or PCR test). If this test is positive, you have chronic hepatitis C, and you may eventually have health problems from the virus. For more details about these tests, go to Understanding Lab Tests. | 
