Hepatitis C Virus Core Antigen Test: an HCV RNA screening alternative in end-stage renal disease and hemodialysis?

• Main Author: Alves,Rita V
• Publication Date: 2019
• Other Authors: Gonçalves,Hernâni, Gonçalves,Maria L, Lopes,Karina, Sofia,Flora, Lobos,Ana V
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0872-01692019000200003
• topic: Anti-HCV antibody; Diagnosis; HCV RNA; Infection

Introduction and Aim:Hepatitis C virus screening using anti-HCV antibody is recommended for end-stage renal disease and chronic hemodialysis patients. Since the anti-HCV antibody test is not able to differentiate a concurrent infection from a resolved past one, a more reliable and cost-effective screening test is needed. Materials and Methods: Prospective study of end-stage renal disease and chronic hemodialysis patients from a hospital unit who were screened by anti-HCV antibody and total ARCHITECT® HCV antigen assay. Results: Cohen's κ test was run to determine if there was agreement between HCV Ribonucleic Acid and HCV core antigen assays on 7 individuals with positive anti-HCV antibody. The two tests had a perfect measurement agreement. Conclusions: HCV core antigen testing could be used as a sensitive method for HCV infection screening in this group of patients based on its accuracy, simplicity and low expense