ORAL FLUID RAPID ASSAY FOR HEPATITIS C VIRUS (HCV) ANTIBODIES USING NON-ANTIBODY LABELING OF lgA MOLECULES RECOGNIZING HCV PEPTIDE EPITOPES

摘要

A method and device to detect Hepatitis C (HCV) antibodies in oral fluid is provided. This method introduces a non-antibody detection molecule that labels all classes of patient antibodies in oral fluid, followed by the specific concentration of labeled anti-HCV antibodies by selective capture in a trapping zone consisting of peptide antigens derived from the HCV genome. Signal generated by the labeled antibodies present in the trapping zone is proportional to the number of anti-HCV antibodies bound to the antigens present in the trapping zone. Presence of signal derived from the capture of antibody/detection molecule complexes in the trapping zone is indicative of past exposure to HCV.