Laboratory diagnosis of hepatitis C.
In 1989 the hepatitis C virus was cloned, some 20 years after the first suggestion that hepatitis C virus(es) (HCV) existed. Since that time there has been rapid development of serological tests for detection of antibody to HCV and molecular tests for detection, quantitation, and characterization of HCV RNA. The development and performance characteristics of these test methods are reviewed and their implications for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring patients on therapy are discussed.
Nolte
F S
FS
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
D000818:Animals; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D012703:Serotyping