Nucleic Acid Testing for Diagnosis of Perinatally Acquired Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Early Infancy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Most US children with perinatal hepatitis C virus (HCV) exposure fail to receive the recommended anti-HCV antibody test at age ≥18 months. Earlier testing for viral RNA might facilitate increased screening, but sensitivity of this approach has not been established. We hypothesized that modern HCV-RNA RT-PCR platforms would adequately detect infected infants.

Methods

Nationwide Children's Hospital electronic health records from 1/1/2008 to 30/6/2018 were reviewed to identify perinatally exposed infants tested by HCV-RNA RT-PCR at age 2-6 months. Diagnostic performance was determined using a composite case definition: (1) infected children had positive repeat HCV-RNA testing or positive anti-HCV at age ≥24 months; (2) uninfected children lacked these criteria and ha

SUBMITTER: Gowda C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8563185 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature