Evaluation of Quantitative Hepatitis C Virus Core Antigen Testing as a Tool for Screening and Confirmation of HCV Infection

• DOI: 10.7754/clin.lab.2023.220839
• Publication Date: 2023-09-13T14:42:57Z
• Authors: Abdulkarim Alhetheel; Amal Alsaeed; Ahmed Albarrag; Ahmed Hakami; Khalifa Binkhamis; Ali Somily; Ahmed Mujamammi; Khalid Alswat
• Keywords: Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a common viral infection worldwide. Finding the most effective diagnostic methods with low cost always needed for laboratory improvement. In this study, we evaluated performance of quantitative chemiluminescent hepatitis virus core antigen (HCV cAg) test by comparing it HCV confirmatory antibody line immunoblot assay Ab-LIA) as well quantitate reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) test.A total 394 samples were enrolled in retrospective study. Of these, 225 tested using Ab screening and Ab-LIA along Ag testing, while 169 qRT-PCR RNA testing.Out positive analyzed LIA cAg assays, 183 (81.3 %) confirmed to be Ab-positive, among those, 77 (42.1%) also cAg. Thirty-eight (20.76%) indeterminate, all them negative. Four (1.8%) LIA-negative negative Moreover, measured load test. One hundred three RNA, 66 Among positives, 96/103 7/103 Out negatives, 4/66 but 62/66 The results concordant 158 (93.5%); however, 11 (6.5%) found discrepant. sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, value 93%, 94%, 96%, 90%, respectively. overall coefficient correlation between levels data was determined r2 = 0.9.The showed high may potentially used more cost-effective alternative