Affiliation:
1. Umm-Al-Qura University,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology,Makkah,Saudi Arabia,
2. The Islamia University of Bahawalpur,Department of Pharmacology,Bahawalpur,Pakistan,
Abstract
Considering advances in hepatitis C therapy, global management of HCV
infection becomes practicable, but some influential factors, like the capacity of
countries to identify and proper diagnosis of infected individuals with immense HCV
genotypic variations among different global regions and at-risk populations, cannot be
passed over. Approximately, 71 million people are infected with chronic HCV
infection and about 80% of them remain undiagnosed. Standard protocol for HCV
diagnosis includes a preliminary serological (HCV antibody) test accompanied by an
expensive confirmatory test for HCV RNA detection in serum samples of patients.
However, gaps remain in the accessibility, affordability, and availability of gold standard HCV diagnostic strategies. In pursuance of achieving the goals of the World
Health Organization (WHO) for HCV elimination as a public health threat by 2030,
efficient, reliable, and simplified diagnostic pathways are needed to unveil. As such,
simplified sensitive strategies that can enhance the single-test diagnostic approach
might assist linkage to care and direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) treatment uptake.
Herein, we will discuss a few advanced diagnostic approaches to subdue some of these
constraints. HCV self-testing and digital devices for the detection of HCV infection
would be of prime importance in the near future. Furthermore, the availability of smart,
robust, and mobile diagnostic platforms to find the missing millions in harder-to-reach
populations and vulnerable individuals would also be required to link every diagnosed
one with cascades of care. We will briefly cover all aspects of HCV screening and
diagnostic algorithms in this book chapter along with potential advantages and
disadvantages.<br>
Publisher
BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBLISHERS
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