Diagnosis of patients with suspected chronic hepatitis C infection

Abstract

The current optimal approach to detecting hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection involves screening people for risk factors and only testing selected individuals at risk. Blood transfusion from infectious donors, unsafe therapeutic injection practices, and illegal intravenous drug use have been the predominant modes of transmission of HCV infection. Virological markers that are currently used for the clinical management of patients with hepatitis C include serologic assays (ELISA or immunoblot assays), which detect specific antibodies (IgG) to HCV, and virological assays, which detect serum HCV RNA, by highly sensitive qualitative and quantitative techniques. The applicability of these tests is for the diagnoses and monitoring of the treatment but they have no role in the assessment of disease severity or prognosis. Patients diagnosed with HCV infection must be educated in order to avoid the spread of the disease to other people.