HCV antigen instead of RNA testing to diagnose acute HCV in patients treated in the Dutch Acute HCV in HIV Study

INTRODUCTION: Affordable and sensitive screening methods for acute hepatitis C (HCV) are necessary to successfully intervene in the current HCV epidemic among HIV-positive men having sex with men. HCV core antigen (Ag) testing has been proven effective in diagnosing chronic HCV-infected patients at low costs. We studied the characteristics of HCV Ag testing in acute HCV-infected HIV-positive patients. Methods Plasma samples were selected from acutely HCV genotype 1-infected patients treated with peginterferon, ribavirin and boceprevir in the Dutch Acute HCV in HIV Study. The control group cons... Mehr ...