Department
Molecular Biology
Test Availability
Mon - Fri, 0800 - 1630 excl. Public Holidays
Laboratory Turnaround Time
Weekly
Method
COBAS Ampliprep/COBAS TaqMan HCV V.2.0
Unit of measurement
IU/mL and log
Uncertainty of measurement
0.0553
Diagnostic Use Or Instructions
- Clinicians should try to identify patients with raised LFTs due to chronic viral hepatitis,
- All HBsAg-positive pregnant women should have their HBV viral load measured,
- All HCV PCR-positive patients should be referred to a specialist, for consideration of treatment with oral direct acting antiviral therapies (DAA).
- New Zealand wide Many HBsAg-positive patients are not being properly followed up or referred, and stand the risk of developing preventable liver disease.
- Anti-HCV antibody is present in almost all those infected with HCV, but depending on the age and sex at acquisition, only 70-80% will have active viral replication.
- A viral load test is needed to identify actively infected patients.
- Like HIV, the antibodies are non-neutralising, i.e. do not control infection.
- The emphasis in Hepatitis C management is to identify patients so they can be treated with oral direct-acting therapies (DAA).
- Do not repeat Hepatitis C virus antibody testing in patients with a previous positive Hepatitis C virus (HCV) test. Instead, order Hepatitis C viral load testing for assessment of active versus resolved infection.
- Do not repeat hepatitis C viral load testing in an individual who has established chronic infection, outside of antiviral treatment.
- Do not repeat HBV or HCV studies without considering the significance of prior testing
Interpretation
The is standardised against the WHO International Standard NIBSC 97/798
Minimum Volume