HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) RNA Detection by Taqman, Serum or Plasma

HCV infection is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease, accounting for 60-70% of all chronic hepatitis. 
Acute HCV infection is often asymptomatic, or associated with non-specific symptoms, and usually goes undiagnosed. However, 60% to 85% of patients develop chronic infection, which is associated with increased risk of cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Detection and quantitation of HCV RNA is an important component of diagnosis and treatment monitoring

Hepatitis C Virus infection is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease, accounting for 60 to 70% of all chronic hepatitis. Hepatitis C virus (HCV), a positive-strand RNA virus, is still a major health problem worldwide.

It frequently leads to chronic infection contributing to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Based on HCV genotype, antiviral therapy is successful in approximately 50 to 70% of infected patients

The HCV RNA PCR test is conducted through a process called polymerase chain reaction (PCR). There are two approaches to this process: qualitative and quantitative. The qualitative test just confirms the detection of the virus whether it is present or absent. On the other hand, the quantitative test gives the amount of virus present in the serum or plasma.

Written by: Dr. Niranjan Patil, M.B.B.S, MD Microbiology, Dept. of Microbiology and Molecular Biology