To investigate the relationship between the reactivity of anti-HCV antibody and detection of HCV RNA, we evaluated the anti-core, NS3 and NS4 antibodies by immunoblot assay. The subjects were 79 inhabitants of H. Town who were anti-HCV positive. HCV RNA-positive ratios were significantly higher in high titer group (10 >S /CO) than in low titer group (10 ≤ S/CO) (P < 0.001). Subjects were classified into four groups according to the antibodies reactivity: A, anti-core reactive only (nine subjects); B, anti-core and anti-NS3 reactive (19 subjects); C, reactive to all epitopes (47 subjects); and D, others (four subjects). In group A, seven (77.8%) were negative for HCV RNA. In groups B, C and D, 17 (24.3%) were negative for HCV RNA. Anti-HCV positive, but HCV RNA-negative, subjects were frequently observed in group A (P < 0.01) and in female (P < 0.05). We concluded that (1) the high titer of antibody against each epitope may reflect the presence of HCV RNA; (2) the natural elimination of HCV may have occurred in group A subjects and in females.