Testing for serum HCV RNA is essential for confirming ongoing HCV infection in individuals with a positive HCV antibody test and determining proper hepatitis C therapy according to the current AASLD/IDSA (Management Guidelines),^{[AASLD-IDSA HCV]} EASL (Management Guidelines),^{[EASL HCV]} and CDC guidelines (Management Guidelines)^{[CDC Testing 2013]}

• The AASLD-IDSA guidelines also recommend HCV RNA testing or follow-up anti-HCV testing for patients with a negative HCV antibody test result if they are suspected of having liver disease and were exposed to HCV during the previous 6 months; HCV RNA testing may also be considered for individuals with negative HCV antibody test results if they are immunocompromised
  
• To improve linkage to care and reduce the number of clinic visits and phlebotomies necessary to confirm an ongoing HCV infection, EASL guidelines recommend reflex testing—collecting sufficient sample (eg, 2 dried blood spots) that enables testing for HCV RNA after a positive finding for HCV antibody