What is in the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Kit?

The TRUPCR® HCV Viral Load Kit is a complete RT-PCR solution tailored for the detection and quantification of HCV RNA. The kit contains:

• Primer-probe mix for highly conserved regions of HCV
• Ready-to-use reagents for reverse transcription and amplification
• WHO-standardized quantitation controls
• Internal Control (IC) targeting human gene sequence to check extraction and PCR efficiency
• Compatibility with CFX96, QuantStudio™ 3 & 5, Rotor-Gene Q, ABI 7500, and others

The inclusion of a five-point standard curve ensures reproducibility and allows precise quantification in International Units (IU).

Role of HCV in Disease

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a globally prevalent RNA virus causing liver inflammation. With an estimated 130–175 million chronic infections worldwide, HCV remains a critical public health concern. Transmission occurs primarily through contaminated blood, often via shared needles or inadequately screened transfusions.

Approximately 75–85% of infected individuals develop chronic hepatitis C, which can progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The risk of HCC is 1–4% annually in cirrhotic patients. Early detection and ongoing viral load monitoring are essential for guiding antiviral therapy and achieving sustained virologic response (SVR), the ultimate goal in HCV treatment.

About the TRUPCR® HCV Viral Load Kit

The TRUPCR® HCV Viral Load Kit offers clinicians and lab professionals a high-performance tool for managing HCV infection. Designed to meet the demands of modern molecular diagnostics, it quantifies viral RNA in plasma or serum specimens with exceptional precision. The kit detects HCV RNA across all six major genotypes and delivers fast, cost-effective results critical to patient management.

This assay supports:

• Early diagnosis within the window period
• Monitoring response to direct-acting antivirals (DAAs)
• Long-term surveillance of chronic HCV cases
• Research and clinical study applications

The internal control minimizes false negatives, while WHO-calibrated standards ensure data harmonization and cross-laboratory comparability.

Principle and Workflow

The TRUPCR® HCV assay follows a one-step RT-PCR workflow:

1. Sample Prep: Extract RNA from serum or plasma.
2. Reaction Setup: Combine extracted RNA with provided RT-PCR master mix and internal control.
3. Thermal Cycling: Run assay on compatible PCR system with recommended cycling conditions.
4. Data Analysis: Quantify HCV RNA based on standard curve and assess IC validity.

This protocol enables quantification as low as 20 IU/ml, offering the sensitivity required for both early diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

Clinical Application

This kit is intended for:

• Hospitals & Transplant Units: Routine monitoring of immunocompromised patients
• Public Health Programs: Screening at-risk populations and confirming active infections
• Clinical Trials: Measuring treatment response to investigational antivirals
• Diagnostic Labs: High-throughput viral load testing

By enabling precise measurement of HCV RNA levels, the TRUPCR® HCV Viral Load Kit empowers clinicians to tailor therapy, assess SVR, and ultimately reduce liver-related morbidity and mortality.