Developments in the HCV screening technologies based on the detection of antigens and antibodies

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) accounts for 15%–20% of cases of acute infection, and chronic HCV infection is developed in about 50%–80% of HCV patients. Unfortunately, due to the lack of proper medical care, difficulty in screening for HCV infection, and lack of awareness resulted in chronic HCV infection in 71 million people on a global scale, and about 399,000 deaths in 2016. It is crucial to recognize that the effective use of antiviral medicines can cure more than 95% of HCV infected people. The Global Health Sector Strategy (GHSS) aim is to reduce the new HCV infections and the HCV associated mortality by 90% and 65%, respectively. Therefore, the methods that are simple, yet powerful enough to detect HCV infections with high sensitivity, specificity, and a shorter window period are crucial to restrain the global burden of HCV healthcare. This article focuses on the technologies used for the detection of HCV in clinical specimens.