Laboratory Strategies for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Hepatis C Virus Infection

In the fight to eradicate hepatitis C virus (HCV), recent advances have provided both challenges and opportunities in our current laboratory approach for screening, diagnosis, and therapeutic response monitoring. Highly sensitive molecular assays have replaced serological confirmatory assays, while direct-acting antivirals have replaced interferon-based approaches, providing new weapons in the battle against chronic HCV infection. Aligned with these developments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases have recently updated guidance on the populations that should be offered testing and the methods and strategies to effectively do so. This review describes the details of these opportunities and the impacts of new guidance on laboratory evaluation in both routine and unique populations at risk for or infected with HCV.