A 32-year-old woman presents with fever, jaundice, and right upper quadrant pain for 5 days. She has a history of intravenous drug use. Laboratory studies show elevated transaminases and anti-HCV antibodies are positive. A viral load test is ordered to confirm active infection. Which of the following best explains why anti-HCV antibodies alone are insufficient to diagnose current HCV infection?
- A)HCV does not generate an antibody response in immunocompromised patients
- B)HCV antibodies are only present during the acute phase of infection
- C)Anti-HCV testing has a false-positive rate exceeding 60%
- D)Anti-HCV antibodies persist indefinitely even after viral clearanceGABARITO
- E)Anti-HCV antibodies cross-react with hepatitis B surface antigen
Explicação
Anti-HCV antibodies indicate past or present HCV infection but persist indefinitely even after spontaneous viral clearance or successful treatment. HCV RNA (viral load) testing is required to determine if active infection is present. Ver explicação completa e trilha adaptativa →