Epidemiological studies on hepatitis C virus infection: detection, prevalence, exposure and prevention.
Highly sensitive and specific tests for HCV infection are now available for epidemiological studies. These include: (1) the second-generation ELISA or agglutination technique with supplemental testing; (2) serotyping of antibody; (3) detection of HCV-RNA by RT-nested double PCR with the 5' noncoding region for the highest sensitivity; (4) quantitation of HCV-RNA; (5) genotyping using specific primers in the core region, and (6) sequence analysis of E2/NS1 hypervariable region 1 to identify homology among HCV isolates. Transmission of HCV is commonly done by percutaneous routes, although the route in a significant proportion of sporadic infections is unknown. Sexual transmission and perinatal transmission appear to be relatively infrequent.
Nishioka
K
K
Viral Hepatitis Research Foundation of Japan, Tokyo.
D000349:Africa; D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D001211:Asia, Western; D005060:Europe; D005202:Asia, Eastern; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D009656:North America; D015995:Prevalence