The HCV antibody test is used to screen patients for which disease?

The HCV antibody test is specifically designed to detect antibodies to the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a patient's blood. This test plays a crucial role in screening for Hepatitis C infection, which is a liver disease caused by the HCV. Detecting these antibodies indicates that the patient may have been exposed to the virus at some point, although further testing is often required to confirm an active infection.

Hepatitis C is distinct from Hepatitis A, B, and D, which are caused by different viruses and require separate tests for detection. For example, the Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) each have their own specific antibodies that need to be tested for, while Hepatitis D (HDV) can only occur in conjunction with Hepatitis B infection. Thus, the HCV antibody test is solely associated with the identification of Hepatitis C, making it the correct choice for this question.