Microbiologia Medica (Mar 2010)

Diagnostic accuracy of a new commercially available HCV-antigen test

  • Marta Monari,
  • Serenella Valaperta,
  • Roberto Assandri,
  • Alessandro Montanelli

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4081/mm.2010.2488
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 25, no. 1

Abstract

Read online

Nowadays the diagnosis of HCV infection is based on the detection of anti-HCV antibodies (HCV-Ab) subsequently confirmed by a RIBA test and HCV-RNA test.A new chemiluminescence assay is now available allowing the detection of HCV antigen (HCV-Ag) (HCV-Ag,Abbott, USA®).The aim of the study was to investigate the diagnostic performances of this new test.We performed on 63 selected serum samples the following analyses: HCV-Ab , HCV-Ag, RIBA test and HCV-RNA . For HCV-Ag vs HCV-RNA we found specificity of 95% and sensitivity of 100%. Our study has highlighted the diagnostic accuracy of HCV-Ag test. This test does not require special equipments to be performed, so its strong specificity suggests its possible role in a rapid and low-cost new diagnostic protocol, particularly in a population with low incidence of HCV infection.

Keywords