"Ask the Experts": Can I Test Positive for Hepatitis C but Have No Viral Load?

The following is a physician-patient interaction that took place within TheBody.com's "Ask the Experts" forum on hepatitis.

		hepatitis c Jul 27, 2013i have tested posotive for hep c but there is no viral load. what does this mean? do i have it or not?
		Response from Dr. Taylor Having a positive hep C antibody but a negative hep C viral load means that you have been exposed to hep C but cleared away the infection and do not have chronic hep C. Ideally the hep C viral load should be repeated to confirm this result. This is good news!

Return to our full listing of answers to patients' frequently asked questions regarding hepatitis C transmission, testing, management and treatment.