ABSTRACT
Introduction: Detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and the HCV core antigen assay (HCV-Ag) are reliable techniques for the diagnosis of active and chronic HCV infection. Our aim was to evaluate the HCV-Ag assay as an alternative to quantification of HVC RNA. Methods: A comparison was made of the sensitivity and specificity of an HCV-Ag assay (204 serum samples) with those of a PCR assay, and the correlation between the two techniques was determined. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of HCV-Ag was 76.6% and 100%, respectively. Both assays were extremely well correlated (Pearson coefficient=0.951). The formula (LogCV=1.15*LogAg+2.26) was obtained to calculate the viral load by PCR from HCV-Ag values. HCV-Ag was unable to detect viral loads below 5000IU/mL. Conclusion: Although the HCV-Ag assay was less sensitive than the PCR assay, the correlation between both assays was excellent. HCV-Ag can be useful as a first step in the diagnosis of acute or chronic HCV infection and in emergency situations (AU)
Introducción: La detección del ARN del Virus de la Hepatitis C (VHC) y el ensayo del antígeno del Core del VHC (HCV-Ag) son técnicas fiables para el diagnóstico de la infección aguda y crónica por el VHC. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar el HCV-Ag como alternativa a la cuantificación del ARN del VHC. Métodos: Analizamos la sensibilidad y especificidad del ensayo de HCV-Ag sobre 204 muestras de suero en comparación con un ensayo de PCR, así como su correlación. Resultados: La sensibilidad y especificidad del HCV-Ag fueron del 76,6% y 100%, respectivamente. Ambas técnicas mostraron una excelente correlación (Coeficiente de Pearson=0,951). Obtuvimos una fórmula (LogCV=1,15 * LogAg+2,26) para calcular la carga viral por PCR a partir de los valores de HCV-Ag. El HCV-Ag fue incapaz de detectar viremias por debajo de 5.000UI/mL. Conclusión: Aunque el ensayo de HCV-Ag fue menos sensible que el ensayo de PCR, ambas técnicas mostraron una excelente correlación. El HCV-Ag puede ser útil como primera etapa en el diagnóstico de la infección aguda o crónica por el VHC y en situaciones de urgencia (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Hepacivirus/isolation & purification , Hepatitis C Antibodies/analysis , Viremia/diagnosis , Hepatitis C/diagnosis , Hepatitis C/genetics , Sensitivity and Specificity , RNA/analysis , RNA/genetics , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methodsABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and the HCV core antigen assay (HCV-Ag) are reliable techniques for the diagnosis of active and chronic HCV infection. Our aim was to evaluate the HCV-Ag assay as an alternative to quantification of HVC RNA. METHODS: A comparison was made of the sensitivity and specificity of an HCV-Ag assay (204 serum samples) with those of a PCR assay, and the correlation between the two techniques was determined. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of HCV-Ag was 76.6% and 100%, respectively. Both assays were extremely well correlated (Pearson coefficient=0.951). The formula (LogCV=1.15*LogAg+2.26) was obtained to calculate the viral load by PCR from HCV-Ag values. HCV-Ag was unable to detect viral loads below 5000IU/mL. CONCLUSION: Although the HCV-Ag assay was less sensitive than the PCR assay, the correlation between both assays was excellent. HCV-Ag can be useful as a first step in the diagnosis of acute or chronic HCV infection and in emergency situations.
