Reliability and diagnostic use of a test for the search of the hepatitis C virus Ag (AgHCV).

Background/aims: The detection of serum HCV nucleocapsid (core) antigen, besides being a valid alternative, by virtue of its low cost, to direct analysis of the virus in everyday transfusion practice, also aims to be employed in monitoring patients subjected to antiviral therapy. The verification of strict correlation between the two tests is the presupposition for such use.

Methodology: In a group of 112 HCV-positive subjects, we assessed blood transaminases, viremia (by PCR), and the circulating core antigen (by ELISA).