title: Hepatitis C core antigen testing: a reliable, quick, and potentially cost-effective alternative to hepatitis C polymerase chain reaction in diagnosing acute hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is increasingly common among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men who have sex with men. We evaluated the efficacy of HCV core antigen in diagnosing acute HCV in an HIV-infected cohort. Compared with HCV polymerase chain reaction, core antigen proved sensitive (100%) and specific (97.9%). As a quick, simple, and cost-effective test, it has considerable utility in screening for acute HCV.
authors.affiliation: Lawson Unit, Department of HIV and Sexual Health, Royal Sussex County Hospital.
authors.forename: Fiona V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Cresswell
authors.affiliation: Lawson Unit, Department of HIV and Sexual Health, Royal Sussex County Hospital Brighton and Sussex Medical School.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: Lawson Unit, Department of HIV and Sexual Health, Royal Sussex County Hospital.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Lawson Unit, Department of HIV and Sexual Health, Royal Sussex County Hospital.
authors.forename: Simon G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology/Microbiology and Infection, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Homer
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology/Microbiology and Infection, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mohammed O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Hassan-Ibrahim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus
keywords: PCR; acute hepatitis C; diagnosis; hepatitis C core antigen