title: HCV core-antigen assay as an alternative to HCV RNA quantification: A correlation study for the assessment of HCV viremia.
abstract: Detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and the HCV core antigen assay (HCV-Ag) are reliable techniques for the diagnosis of active and chronic HCV infection. Our aim was to evaluate the HCV-Ag assay as an alternative to quantification of HVC RNA.
  
  
  
  A comparison was made of the sensitivity and specificity of an HCV-Ag assay (204 serum samples) with those of a PCR assay, and the correlation between the two techniques was determined.
  
  
  
  The sensitivity and specificity of HCV-Ag was 76.6% and 100%, respectively. Both assays were extremely well correlated (Pearson coefficient=0.951). The formula (LogCV=1.15*LogAg+2.26) was obtained to calculate the viral load by PCR from HCV-Ag values. HCV-Ag was unable to detect viral loads below 5000IU/mL.
  
  
  
  Although the HCV-Ag assay was less sensitive than the PCR assay, the correlation between both assays was excellent. HCV-Ag can be useful as a first step in the diagnosis of acute or chronic HCV infection and in emergency situations.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología Clínica y Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología Clínica y Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: felipe.perez.garcia.87@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pérez-García
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología Clínica y Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: López-Roa
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología Clínica y Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alcalá
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología Clínica y Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rodeño
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología Clínica y Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bouza
mesh_terms: D000078331:Correlation of Data; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014766:Viremia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Carga viral; Core-antigen assay; Correlación; Correlation; Ensayo del antígeno del Core del VHC; Hepatitis C virus; Viral load; Virus de la Hepatitis C