title: [HCV-RNA test in hepatitis C virus infection--a systematic review].
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. The severity of disease varies widely from mild illness to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The routine diagnostic test for HCV infection is performed using anti-HCV antibodies and an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for serologic identification and HCV-RNA assay employing the polymerase chain reaction(PCR) for genetic identification. This study assessed the sensitivity and specificity of HCV-RNA diagnostic tests on analysis of the literature. A literature search was performed using the criteria from The standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD) steering committee for the assessment of diagnostic tests. The selected studies were searched for identifying publications on the appropriate conducting and reporting of diagnostic studies, and we extracted potential items to generate an extensive list. Out of 409 studies, 38 were selected. Further studies are necessary to accurately access HCV-RNA in various populations compared with reference tests.
authors.affiliation: Division of Healthcare Economics and Quality Management, Tohoku Fukushi University, Sendai, 981-8522, Japan.
authors.forename: Mayu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takedai
authors.forename: Akihide
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takatani
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Funato
authors.forename: Kunihide
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ino
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Hayato
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyachi
authors.forename: Tutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noboru
authors.forename: Kunihiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012367:RNA, Viral