ОПТИМИЗАЦИЯ ДИАГНОСТИКИ ГЕПАТИТ С С ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕМ HCV CORE-АНТИГЕНА В УСЛОВИЯХ ОГРАНИЧЕННЫХ РЕСУРСОВ

Abstrak

Chronic viral hepatitis C (HCV infection) remains one of the most significant medical and social problems of modern healthcare due to its high prevalence, prolonged asymptomatic course, tendency to progress to chronic disease, and development of severe complications such as liver cirrhosis, hepatic failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. According to the World Health Organization, millions of people worldwide are infected with the hepatitis C virus, while a considerable proportion of patients remain undiagnosed for a long time. Late detection of the infection leads to disease progression and increased mortality. This issue is particularly relevant in countries and regions with limited healthcare resources, where access to modern molecular genetic diagnostic methods is restricted because of the high cost of laboratory equipment and testing.

Timely and accurate diagnosis plays a crucial role in the control of viral hepatitis C. Currently, serological, molecular genetic, biochemical, and instrumental methods are used to detect HCV infection. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), based on the detection of antibodies to the hepatitis C virus, is widely used as a screening method due to its accessibility, high sensitivity, and suitability for large-scale population screening. However, ELISA cannot differentiate active infection from a previously resolved infection and has limitations during the early stage of the disease because of the “serological window period,” when antibodies have not yet formed in sufficient quantities.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is considered the “gold standard” for the diagnosis of viral hepatitis C because it enables the detection of viral RNA at the earliest stages of infection, assessment of viral load, and genotyping. Despite its high sensitivity and specificity, the widespread use of PCR is limited by the high cost of testing, the need for specialized laboratory equipment, and highly qualified personnel. Therefore, the detection of HCV core antigen has attracted considerable attention as a more accessible and cost-effective method for identifying active viral replication.