HСV (qualit., 100 UI/ml)
The determination of hepatitis C virus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is characterized by high sensitivity and specificity (98%). The principle of PCR is to identify a unique fragment of RNA belonging to a virus after repeated doubling of the sampling genetic material in a test-tube.
In the OLYMP CDL branches, PCR analysis is done in REAL-TIME mode, which means that after each hardware cycle (amplification), the amount of RNA in the biomaterial is measured. This procedure reduces the probability of a false positive result to almost zero! This accuracy makes it possible to diagnose hepatitis C.
Qualitative tests do not reflect the amount of the pathogen in the biomaterial, therefore, the result is "positive" or "negative". More informative (but also expensive) is the quantitative method, which shows the viral load.
The analysis is more science-intensive and expensive in comparison with the ECL method, which does not allow using the technique as a screening examination. Thus, the test is most often prescribed in case of a positive result of the ECL technique (see "Anti-HCV") to confirm or deny the diagnosis. The PCR method can detect the RNA of the virus as early as 2 weeks after infection, that is, much earlier than antibodies to the virus appear.
More about hepatitis "FEATURES OF LABORATORY EXAMINATION FOR VIRAL HEPATITIS B AND C"