Impact of Isolated Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Core-Specific Antibody Detection and Viral RNA Amplification among HCV-Seronegative Dialysis Patients at Risk for Infection

摘要

Amplification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA from blood detected occult HCV infections in 30.9% of 210 HCV-seronegative dialysis patients with abnormal liver enzyme levels that had evaded standard HCV testing practices. Isolated HCV core-specific antibody detection identified three additional anti-HCV screening-negative patients lacking HCV RNA amplification in blood who were considered potentially infectious. Together, these findings may affect management of the dialysis setting.