The present disclosure provides detection methods employing HCV core lipid binding domain and DNA binding domain monoclonal antibodies or antibody fragments. In certain embodiments, the lipid binding domain monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment recognizes an epitope in amino acids 141 to 161 of HCV core protein and the DNA binding domain antibody or antibody fragment recognizes an epitope in amino acids 95-123 (e.g., in amino acids 99-117) of HCV core protein.