Hepatitis C is one of the very few chronic viral infections that can be cured. By that, we mean that the virus is no longer detectable in blood by PCR technology. Once hepatitis C virus is gone, it doesn't come back even if the immune system is weakened by HIV infection, chemotherapy or even bone marrow transplant. Many people have been cured since the early 1990s and remain free of hepatitis C. Even so, the antibody test (anti-HCV) will likely always remain positive. The antibody is the body's memory of past infection. Despite the antibody, the body is not immune. If there is re-exposure to hepatitis C (for example through injection drug use), re-infection can occur.

Hepatitis C infection can go away in one of two ways:


1. Spontaneous Remission


The body's immune system can get rid of hepatitis C
This is most likely within the first year of infection, but can very rarely happen years after infection

2. Treatment-Induced Remission

This is called a Sustained Virological Response (SVR)
HCV is not detectable at least 6 months after stopping treatment