Editing Hepatitis C (section)

=== Serology ===
{{nowrap|Hepatitis C}} testing typically begins with [[serology|blood testing]] to detect the presence of antibodies to the HCV, using an enzyme immunoassay.<ref name=AFP2010 /> If this test is positive, a confirmatory test is then performed to verify the immunoassay and to determine the [[viral load]].<ref name=AFP2010 /> A recombinant immunoblot assay is used to verify the immunoassay and the viral load is determined by an HCV RNA polymerase chain reaction.<ref name=AFP2010 /> If there is no RNA and the immunoblot is positive, it means that the person tested had a previous infection but cleared it either with treatment or spontaneously; if the immunoblot is negative, it means that the immunoassay was wrong.<ref name=AFP2010 /> It takes about 6–8 weeks following infection before the immunoassay will test positive.<ref name=ID2010 /> Several tests are available as [[point of care testing|point-of-care testing]] (POCT), which can provide results within 30 minutes.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Shivkumar S, Peeling R, Jafari Y, Joseph L, Pant Pai N | title = Accuracy of rapid and point-of-care screening tests for hepatitis C: a systematic review and meta-analysis | journal = Annals of Internal Medicine | volume = 157 | issue = 8 | pages = 558–66 | date = October 2012 | pmid = 23070489 | doi = 10.7326/0003-4819-157-8-201210160-00006 | s2cid = 5650682 }}</ref>

Liver enzymes are variable during the initial part of the infection<ref name=Book2011 /> and on average begin to rise seven weeks after infection.<ref name=ID2010 /> The elevation of liver enzymes does not closely follow disease severity.<ref name=ID2010 />