Hepatitis C virus infection

Journal of Clinical Virology 44 (2009) vii

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Journal of Clinical Virology j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w. e l s e v i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / j c v

Virology Question and Answer Scheme (VIROQAS)

Hepatitis C virus infection William Irving Submitted by William Irving on behalf of the UK Clinical Virology Network www.clinical-virology.org/ Nottingham Specialist Virology Centre, Nottingham University Division of Microbiology, University Hospital, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom

A serum sample sent to the laboratory collected on February 14 2007 from an individual attending a local drug and alcohol support clinic was tested for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody and was reported as positive. You note that the laboratory had received a previous sample from the same person dated July 7 2006, which had been tested by the same assay and reported as HCV antibody negative. The results were as follows: Serum collected on 14/02/07 - HCV antibody positive by two different enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) and confirmed by

doi:10.1016/S1386-6532(09)00009-2

recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) Serum collected on 07/07/2006 - HCV antibody negative. What advice would you give with respect to further management and any investigations that should be carried out? Please see Evidence based opinion at the end of this issue.