Description

 The ELISA VHC-Ab Screen Reagent kit is designed for simultaneous determination of IgG and IgM antibodies to Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in human blood serum (plasma) by applying ELISA technique. The ELISA VHC-Ab Screen reagent kit allows to detected mutant forms of Hepatitis C virus.
 Modern specific laboratory diagnostic of Hepatitis C virus based on the determination of special infection contamination markers to Hepatitis C virus antigens, antibodies to virus proteins and RNA of viruses. At present times ELISA technique is applied for detection of specific antibodies to Hepatitis C virus for preliminary diagnostic of HCV infection and blood-bank testing.
 There are HCV genome sections encoding structural and non-structural proteins. The structural antigens of the virus include a nucleocapsid protein core and two proteins of the outer envelope E1 and E2. Non-structural proteins are represented by a complex of proteins with enzymatic activity: NS2, NS3, NS4a, NS4b, NS5a и NS5b. In response to virus infection, specific antibodies to all proteins of the virus are produced in the human body.
 In the process of the immune response during HCV infection, antibodies to the non-structural NS4 protein are detected considerably late, ****2 weeks after infection contamination. Antibodies to the core (c*2) and NS3 (c*3) proteins are detected earlier. In addition, the intensity of production of antibodies to the NS4 protein during infection with some HCV genotypes is lower, while the level of antibodies to the core and NS3 proteins is usually high and does not depend on the virus genotype. At present time, the third-generation test systems, which are widely used for donated blood testing, use recombinant proteins from the core, NS3, NS4 and NS5.
 Scope clinical laboratory diagnostics.