Hepatitis C is a virus that can infect and damage the liver. Hepatitis C antibody is produced in the body in response to exposure to the hepatitis C virus (HCV). This test for HCV looks for these antibodies in your blood.
Hepatitis C often leads to chronic hepatitis, which can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Early detection of the virus can alert your doctor to follow your liver function more closely than usual and to consider treatment you if you are chronically infected.