Laboratory Diagnosis of Hepatitis C Infections, Difficulties and Current Diagnostic Algorithm
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an infectious agent transmitted mainly by the contact of blood and body fluids of infected people, causing acute and chronic hepatitis in humans with a high potential for chronicity, unlike other hepatitis viruses. Although a protective vaccine has not yet been developed d...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Bilimsel Tip Yayinevi
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Flora Infeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Dergisi |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.floradergisi.org/managete/fu_folder/2020-02/2020-25-02-139-153.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797922453687631872 |
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| author | Fatih ŞAHİNER Ramazan GÜMRAL |
| author_facet | Fatih ŞAHİNER Ramazan GÜMRAL |
| author_sort | Fatih ŞAHİNER |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an infectious agent transmitted mainly by the contact of blood and body fluids of infected people, causing acute and chronic hepatitis in humans with a high potential for chronicity, unlike other hepatitis viruses. Although a protective vaccine has not yet been developed due to the extreme variability of its antigenic structures, it has become possible to permanently treat HCV infections with direct-acting antiviral drugs recently introduced. Laboratory tests such as determination of genotype-subtype before the start of treatment and viral load monitoring by using quantitative molecular analyzes during treatment are critical for the success of treatment. Laboratory diagnosis of HCV infections is also important for infection control measures such as screening of blood and blood products and epidemiological surveillance. The most important difficulties encountered in the diagnosis of HCV are low positive serological test results, serological window period, lack of antibody production in immunosuppressive patients, the presence of multiple genotype-subtypes and genomic variations that complicate primary-probe design. In the past, immunoblotting tests using recombinant proteins had been used to confirm low titer serological test results. Nowadays, these tests have been replaced by molecular tests that provide early detection of acute infections as well as having high sensitivity and specificity. In this article, advantages and limitations of the methods used in the diagnosis and follow-up of HCV infections are discussed, and the current diagnostic algorithm based on the use of available tests in the management of HCV infections is reviewed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T14:32:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-55f6b01e7d2f47a9bfdaaa6661ad74c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1300-932X 1300-932X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T14:32:43Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | Bilimsel Tip Yayinevi |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Flora Infeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Dergisi |
| spelling | doaj.art-55f6b01e7d2f47a9bfdaaa6661ad74c32023-02-15T16:08:44ZengBilimsel Tip YayineviFlora Infeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Dergisi1300-932X1300-932X2020-06-0125213915310.5578/flora.69018Laboratory Diagnosis of Hepatitis C Infections, Difficulties and Current Diagnostic AlgorithmFatih ŞAHİNER0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3488-0339Ramazan GÜMRAL1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2303-8234Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Gulhane Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Anakara, TurkeyDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Gulhane Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Anakara, TurkeyHepatitis C virus (HCV) is an infectious agent transmitted mainly by the contact of blood and body fluids of infected people, causing acute and chronic hepatitis in humans with a high potential for chronicity, unlike other hepatitis viruses. Although a protective vaccine has not yet been developed due to the extreme variability of its antigenic structures, it has become possible to permanently treat HCV infections with direct-acting antiviral drugs recently introduced. Laboratory tests such as determination of genotype-subtype before the start of treatment and viral load monitoring by using quantitative molecular analyzes during treatment are critical for the success of treatment. Laboratory diagnosis of HCV infections is also important for infection control measures such as screening of blood and blood products and epidemiological surveillance. The most important difficulties encountered in the diagnosis of HCV are low positive serological test results, serological window period, lack of antibody production in immunosuppressive patients, the presence of multiple genotype-subtypes and genomic variations that complicate primary-probe design. In the past, immunoblotting tests using recombinant proteins had been used to confirm low titer serological test results. Nowadays, these tests have been replaced by molecular tests that provide early detection of acute infections as well as having high sensitivity and specificity. In this article, advantages and limitations of the methods used in the diagnosis and follow-up of HCV infections are discussed, and the current diagnostic algorithm based on the use of available tests in the management of HCV infections is reviewed.http://www.floradergisi.org/managete/fu_folder/2020-02/2020-25-02-139-153.pdfanti-hcvhcv-rnaacute infectionquantitation |
| spellingShingle | Fatih ŞAHİNER Ramazan GÜMRAL Laboratory Diagnosis of Hepatitis C Infections, Difficulties and Current Diagnostic Algorithm Flora Infeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Dergisi anti-hcv hcv-rna acute infection quantitation |
| title | Laboratory Diagnosis of Hepatitis C Infections, Difficulties and Current Diagnostic Algorithm |
| title_full | Laboratory Diagnosis of Hepatitis C Infections, Difficulties and Current Diagnostic Algorithm |
| title_fullStr | Laboratory Diagnosis of Hepatitis C Infections, Difficulties and Current Diagnostic Algorithm |
| title_full_unstemmed | Laboratory Diagnosis of Hepatitis C Infections, Difficulties and Current Diagnostic Algorithm |
| title_short | Laboratory Diagnosis of Hepatitis C Infections, Difficulties and Current Diagnostic Algorithm |
| title_sort | laboratory diagnosis of hepatitis c infections difficulties and current diagnostic algorithm |
| topic | anti-hcv hcv-rna acute infection quantitation |
| url | http://www.floradergisi.org/managete/fu_folder/2020-02/2020-25-02-139-153.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fatihsahiner laboratorydiagnosisofhepatitiscinfectionsdifficultiesandcurrentdiagnosticalgorithm AT ramazangumral laboratorydiagnosisofhepatitiscinfectionsdifficultiesandcurrentdiagnosticalgorithm |