Hepatitis C virus core mutations associated with false-negative serological results for genotype 3a core antigen

Abstract

Genetic characterization of the genotype 3a (GT3a) hepatitis C virus (HCV) core region from HCV core antigen (HCVcAg)-negative/ RNA-positive cases and HCVcAg-positive/RNA-positive controls identified significant associations between the substitutions A48T and T49A/P and failure to detect HCVcAg (P<0.05). Polymorphisms at residues 48 and 49 in the core protein are present across all major epidemic and endemic GTs. These findings have implications for HCV diagnosis, particularly in lowincome regions in which GT3a HCV is endemic.