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

Abstract 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 contro... Mehr ...