title: Use of diagnostic testing for managing hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: Serological and virological testing for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is essential in the management of patients with chronic HCV infection. Recent advances in molecular virology tests and the development of a new international unit standard have greatly simplified the use and interpretation of these tests. In the absence of treatment, baseline serum HCV RNA does not change over time and does not correlate with the severity of hepatic inflammation or fibrosis on liver biopsy. In contrast, changes in serum HCV RNA level are important predictors of virological response to treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Diagnostics, Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferreira-Gonzalez
authors.forename: Mitchell L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Shiffman
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral