Most hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected persons are asymptomatic.
However, many have chronic liver disease, which can range from mild to severe
including cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Laboratory criteria for diagnosis
Anti-HCV positive (repeat reactive) by EIA, verified by
an additional more specific assay (e.g. RIBA for anti-HCV or nucleic acid
testing for HCV RNA), OR
HCV RIBA positive, OR
Nucleic acid test for HCV RNA positive, OR
Anti-HCV positive (repeat reactive) by EIA with a signal
to cut-off ratio >= 3.8 (as this becomes available).
Case classification
Probable: a case that is anti-HCV
positive (repeat reactive) by EIA and has alanine aminotranferase (ALT or SGPT)
values above the upper limit of normal, but the anti-HCV EIA result has not been
verified by an additional more specific assay or the signal to cutoff ratio is
unknown.
Confirmed: a case that is laboratory confirmed and that
does not meet the case definition for acute hepatitis C.