Diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection: diagnostic value of the anti-HCV test]

Different groups of patients were analysed for antibody to hepatitis-C-virus (anti-HCV). A high prevalence was found in individuals with parenteral exposure (chronic Non-A, Non-B hepatitis, 77.5%, drug addicts 84.5%), while blood donors had a prevalence of 0.51%, this was significantly higher in patients with chronic type B hepatitis (30%), in homosexuals (22.5%) and in patients with different types of autoimmune hepatitis (57.2%). This indicates that differential diagnosis of chronic hepatitis and indications for alpha interferon therapy is not possible by simply anti-HCV testing. Further studies are required to establish the diagnostic value of the anti-HCV test.