Determination of anti-HCV and quantification of HCV-RNA and IP-10 from dried blood spots sent by regular mail.

ABSTRACT:

Background

With the introduction of direct acting antivirals, treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in hard-to-reach populations is now feasible. Therefore, new cost-effective and reliable test methods are needed. Determination of HCV antibodies and HCV-RNA from dried blood spots samples could represent one such method. Here we examined whether anti-HCV could be detected-and HCV-RNA quantified-from dried blood spots, sent by regular mail. We also investigated, if IP-10 determined from dried blood spots correlated with fibrosis progression appraised by transient elastography.

Method

Forty chronic HCV infected patients were consecutively enrolled. At baseline and after six months, dried blood spots were prepared from blood collected by venous puncture, dried for 4-6 hours, then

SUBMITTER: Neesgaard B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6067740 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature