Paper I
2024 June (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) · 100 marks · 180 min

Question

What are the laboratory tests available to detect Hepatitis C in a suspected patient

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Answer

Laboratory tests to detect Hepatitis C in a suspected patient:

  1. Anti-HCV antibody test (ELISA/EIA) — the initial screening test, detecting IgG antibody against HCV; a positive result indicates past or present infection (does not by itself confirm active/ongoing infection, since antibody persists even after viral clearance).
  2. HCV RNA testing (RT-PCR, qualitative or quantitative) — confirms active, ongoing infection by directly detecting circulating viral RNA; qualitative PCR confirms presence/absence, while quantitative PCR (viral load) is used to guide and monitor antiviral treatment response.
  3. HCV genotyping — determines the specific HCV genotype (1–6), important for selecting the appropriate antiviral regimen and predicting treatment duration/response (e.g., genotype 1 historically more difficult to treat than genotype 2/3, though modern direct-acting antivirals have reduced this distinction).
  4. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) — point-of-care immunochromatographic tests for anti-HCV antibody, useful for rapid screening in resource-limited settings.
  5. Liver function tests (LFTs) — elevated ALT/AST supports ongoing hepatocellular injury, though not specific to HCV; used to assess disease activity and monitor progression, not as a specific diagnostic test for HCV itself.

Typical diagnostic algorithm: anti-HCV antibody screening → if reactive, confirm active infection with HCV RNA PCR → if RNA positive, proceed to genotyping to guide antiviral therapy selection.

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