HCV core antigen

Bouvier-Alias M, Patel K, Dahari H, Beau court S, Larderie P, Blatt L, et al. Clinical utility of total HCV core antigen quantification A new indirect marker of HCV replication. Hepatology 2002 36 211-8. 

CONJUGATES OF (ACRIDINIUM)x-BSA ANTI-HCV CORE TO ENHANCE THE DETECTION OF HCV CORE ANTIGEN... 

Fig. 2. ABBOTT PRISM HCV core Antigen Assay Format...

Lorenzo J, Castro A, Aguilera A, et al. Total HCV core antigen assay. A new marker of HCV viremia and its application during treatment of chronic hepatitis C. J Virol Methods 2004 120 173-7. 

Lee S, Kim YS, Jo M, Jin M, Lee DK, Kim S (2007) Chip-based detection of hepatitis C virus using RNA aptamers that specifically bind to HCV core antigen. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 358 47-52... 

Hepatitis C core antigen (HCV Ag) is produced by the most constant part of the HCV genome. HCV Ag is one of the major targets of antibody formation, and most HCV Ag circulates bound to antibody. HCV Ag has a similar time course to that of HCV RNA in both acute and chronic HCV infection the currently available assay for HCV Ag becomes reliably positive when HCV RNA is 20,000 lU/mL or greater. In our experience with several thousand HCV RNA samples, less than 5% of untreated HCV RNA positive individuals have a viral load <20,000 lU/mL. In contrast to HCV RNA, HCV Ag is stable on storage. ... 

Cui, P. Recombinant hepatitis C virus NS3 protein and core antigen for detecting anti-HCV antibodies and sandwich ELISA Kits. PCX Int. Appl. WO 2006081718, 2006 Chem. Abstr. 2006, 145, 229321. 

Western blot and ELISA tests [63,64]. Besides the higher sensitivity, an improved selectivity has also been observed using the optical fiber immunosensor. Anti-E2 antibodies in all sera positive for anti-HCV (anti-core, NS3 and NS5) and HCV RNA (100% sensitivity) could be detected. Using Western blot tests, only 69% of anti-HCV (anti-core, NS3 and NS5) positive samples could be detected [63,64]. Furthermore, standard test for anti-HCV antibodies requires the use the three cited antigens (core, NS3 and NS5) because of its limited sensitivity. The high sensitivity of the optical fiber immunosensor, containing only the HVC E2 envelope protein, allows the identification of all RNA positive patients. 

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