Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that primarily affects the liver and can lead to serious health issues if left untreated. The infection is often silent, with many people showing no symptoms for years. This makes testing crucial, as early diagnosis can help prevent long-term liver damage, including cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death. Fortunately, effective treatments are available that can cure most cases of hepatitis C. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all adults aged 18 and older get tested at least once in their lifetime. Pregnant women should be tested during each pregnancy, and people with certain risk factors may need repeated testing. These risk factors include a history of injection drug use, living with HIV, receiving blood transfusions before 1992, and working in healthcare settings with potential exposure to infected blood.
Initial screening is typically done using an HCV antibody test, which checks for antibodies produced in response to the virus. A positive antibody test means one has been exposed to the virus at some point.
If the antibody test is reactive (positive), a second test—called a nucleic acid test (NAT) is needed to determine if the virus is still present in the bloodstream. This test looks for the genetic material (RNA) of the virus and confirms whether one has an active infection. If the NAT is positive, it means that patient is infected with HCV and need treatment. If it’s negative, then the patient could have been infected in the past but cleared the virus naturally or were successfully treated.
Per CDC, people who suspect recent exposure (within the last 6 months) should go straight to the NAT test, as it can detect the virus before antibodies have had time to develop. This ensures early detection and timely care, especially in high-risk settings or after a known exposure incident, such as a needle stick injury.
A non-reactive (negative) antibody test result means one have no signs of past or current infection. However, if one had a recent exposure or remain at risk, provider may recommend retesting after a few months. A reactive (positive) antibody test always requires follow-up with NAT to determine the current infection status, as antibodies remain in the system even after the virus is gone. Early diagnosis and treatment not only protect your health but also help prevent the spread of the virus to others.
References
CDC.gov. Retrieved from Testing for Hepatitis C | Hepatitis C | CDC
Statement on Medical Necessity
All ordered tests should be medically necessary for the diagnosis or detection of disease, illness, impairment, symptom, syndrome, or disorder and the results should be used in the medical management and treatment decisions for the patient. Solaris requires ICD-10 codes with each order for lab testing and both the tests ordered and the diagnosis should be documented in the provider’s medical record for the patient. The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, takes the position that a provider who orders medically unnecessary tests may be subject to civil penalties.
Panels and Profiles
Solaris offers Providers the convenience of ordering test combinations in a group at times with the flexibility to choose appropriate test(s) for individual patients. Providers should only order those tests that he or she believes are medically necessary for each patient, and a lesser inclusive profile or individual tests should be ordered if not all tests in the test combination/profile are medically necessary. All tests offered in a test combination/profile may be ordered separately as individual tests. Solaris encourages clients to contact their Solaris representative if the testing configurations shown do not meet individual needs for any reason, or if some other combination of procedures is needed.
CPT Codes
CPT Codes listed are in accordance with Current Procedural Terminology, a publication of the American Medical Association. CPT codes are the responsibility of the billing party and are listed here for informational purposes. Correct coding may vary from one carrier to another. Solaris may bill specific carriers using codes other than what is shown.
For questions or inquiries related to testing please reach out to
customerservice@solarisdx.com or contact us by phone at (844) 550-0308.
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