RENBP and infection: Based on reactivity in different assays, four distinct groups likely to represent successive stages of de novo HCV infection could be differentiated: in the first group, HCV RNA was the only infection marker, the second group was characterized by HCV RNA and HCV core antigen presence, third by anti‐HCV‐positivity when using IV generation test (Ab/Ag assay) in addition to HCV RNA and core Ag detection, and the fourth group was characterized by repeat reactivity in anti‐HCV assays and negative results in Ab/Ag and Ag assays while retesting.