Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Total Antibodies, Serum/Plasma

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was characterised in 1989 as the causative agent of the majority of non-A non-B hepatitis. It is an RNA virus classiffied in the flavivirredea family. To date, 6 major genotypes and at least 50 subtypes have been identified. HCV is primarily transmitted parenterally. However, risk of HCV transmission through needle stick injury is in the order of 1%-3%, compared with 30% for hepatitis B virus. Sexual and vertical transmission of HCV is uncommon compared with hepatitis B virus and HIV. Most infected people (60%-75%) do not experience symptoms when acutely infected or have only mild flu-like symptoms with little or no jaundice. Symptomatic acute infections are similar to those of hepatitis A or B virus infection. A minority of newly infected patients (15%-50%) will clear the infection, but in most (50%-85%) the infection will become chronic. Extra-hepatic manifestations are not uncommon and may include mixed essential cryoglobulinaemia, membranous or membrano- proliferative glomerulonephritis, non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Sjögren’s syndrome, lichen planus and porphyria cutanea tarda.

HCV antibody testing is usually the initial laboratory test for HCV infection. Third generation anti HCV antibodies testing has a sensitivity of 95%-99% and can detect HCV antibodies 6-8 weeks after exposure. If the anti HCV test result is positive, infection can be confirmed with a highly sensitive PCR-based qualitative or quantitative HCV RNA detection.

1 ml Serum 1 ml K2, K3-EDTA, Li, Na-Heparin, Sodium Citrate, or Potassium Oxalate Plasma Stability: 7 days at 2-8 °C > 7 Days at -20 °C

Avoid grossly haemolysed samples.

Non-Reactive: < 0.9 COI Borderline: ≥ 0.9 - < 1 .0 COI Reactive: ≥ 1.0 COI