Hepatitis C virus - Lab diagnosis, Treatment, Prophylaxis, Control

Laboratory diagnosis of Hepatitis C virus

The laboratory diagnosis of Hepatitis C virus is mostly serological diagnosis.

Specimen

• serum

• liver biopsy

Serodiagnosis

• most commonly used technique for specific diagnosis of Hepatitis C virus infection

• Ab against Hepatitis C virus core, envelope, NS3, NS4, and NS5 proteins are usually detected

• In acute infections, AB is detected after 6-8 weeks

• ELISA (detects Ab present), Recombinant immunoblot assay, using recombinant HCA Ag, EIA is also used.

• Recombinant immunoblast assay is used to confirm positive ELISA results

Molecular diagnosis

Molecular diagnosis methods such as PCR and branched DNA assay are being used to detect Hepatitis C virus RNA in the serum.

Treatment, Prophylaxis, Control

Treatment, Prophylaxis, Control of Hepatitis C virus are as follows:

• Treatment with interferon reduces the chronicity rate in acute infection

• Combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin is the current treatment practice for patients with chronic HCV infection

• No vaccine is available

• Pre and post-exposure prophylaxis with immuno-globulin is ineffective

• HCV infection can be prevented by avoiding contact with the virus.