A 36-year-old male presents to a free clinic with symptoms of anorexia,malaise,vomiting,abdominal pain,and mild jaundice.The patient is a known IV drug abuser.The physician orders liver function tests and an acute hepatitis serum panel.The laboratory reports the following results: anti-HAV IgM = not detected; HBsAg = not detected; anti-HBc IgM = not detected; anti-HBc total = detected; anti-HBs = detected; anti-HCV = detected.These findings are consistent with:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's symptoms, IV drug abuse history, and positive anti-HCV result indicate acute hepatitis C infection. The absence of HBsAg and anti-HAV IgM rules out acute hepatitis A and B. The presence of anti-HBc total and anti-HBs indicates past exposure to hepatitis B but not current infection.

A 36-Year-Old Male Presents to a Free Clinic with Symptoms