Hepatitis C RNA PCR Test
A hepatitis C RNA PCR test measures the genetic material of the hepatitis C virus in the blood. Clinicians use it within the evaluation of hepatitis C and to help follow a picture over time, always under their guidance and interpreted in context.
About this test
PCR, or polymerase chain reaction, is a laboratory method that finds and amplifies specific genetic material so it can be measured. The hepatitis C virus carries its genetic information as RNA, and this test looks for that viral RNA directly rather than for the body's antibody response.
The test is done with a simple blood draw at a patient service center. A phlebotomist collects a sample from a vein, usually in the arm, and sends it to the laboratory.
Who might consider this test?
- People generally encounter a hepatitis C RNA PCR test as part of a clinician-guided evaluation rather than as a casual add-on.
- It is often considered after antibody testing, because measuring viral RNA answers a different kind of question than an antibody result does.
- It may also be used to follow a picture over time under a clinician's direction.
Test details
| Quest code | 35645 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction |
| Sample type | 3 mL plasma |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
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Quest resources
Additional details
What this test looks at
The test looks for and measures hepatitis C viral RNA — the genetic material of the virus — in a blood sample using the PCR method. Unlike an antibody test, which reflects the immune system's response, this test focuses on the virus's own genetic material. That difference is central: the two kinds of tests answer complementary questions, and a clinician chooses among them based on what an evaluation calls for.
It helps to keep the distinction in mind. Antibody testing and RNA testing sit at different points in a hepatitis C evaluation, which is why a clinician often uses them in sequence rather than interchangeably.
How it's often used alongside other tests
The hepatitis C RNA PCR test is commonly read within a broader, clinician-directed evaluation. It frequently follows hepatitis C antibody testing and may be considered next to liver markers such as ALT and AST as part of the wider picture. When a clinician is following a situation over time, the test can be repeated under their guidance. Read together with the rest of the workup, these results give a clinician a fuller view than any single test alone.
Order online and a physician order is included — no doctor's visit and no insurance needed. Your sample is collected at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does the hepatitis C RNA PCR test measure?
It measures hepatitis C viral RNA — the genetic material of the virus — in a blood sample using the PCR laboratory method, rather than measuring the body's antibody response.
How is it different from a hepatitis C antibody test?
An antibody test reflects the immune system's response, while the RNA PCR test looks for the virus's own genetic material. The two answer complementary questions and are often used in sequence.
Why is this test used under clinician guidance?
It sits within a managed evaluation, so a clinician decides when to order it, how it fits with other markers, and how to interpret it as part of a person's wider care and any follow-up over time.
How is the sample collected?
Through a routine blood draw at a patient service center. A phlebotomist takes a small sample from a vein in the arm and sends it to the laboratory.
Can this test give a complete answer on its own?
No. A single result does not establish a full conclusion by itself. A clinician interprets it together with history, other hepatitis C markers, and the wider clinical context.
How much is a Hepatitis C Viral RNA, Quantitative, Real-Time PCR test?
$839, paid once at checkout. The price includes the physician's order this test requires and sample collection at a Quest patient service center.