Salivary diagnostics of hepatitis C virus

Abstract:

Today, viral hepatitis infections are recognized as a public health problem representing a great burden to health care systems. Acute infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is often characterized by mild symptoms and may therefore remain unrecognized. The chronic infection leads to severe liver damage, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), leading to liver transplantation. The incidence and prevalence of viral hepatitis have been declining, but still there is a need for preventive measures against hepatitis B and C viruses. Governments of countries around the world develop national programs to reduce new cases by implementing preventive measures. If infection does occur, early diagnosis and treatment are required. Croatia has achieved excellent results in the prevention of viral hepatitis by developing own national programs through testing in the community, along with simultaneous high-quality connection with the institutional system. Such a connection is required to provide a continuum of care for each patient, from the testing until the end of therapy, what is also the key to control the infection. Newer tests for the detection of anti-HCV antibodies utilize saliva as a diagnostic medium and its availability, reliability and accuracy favors early diagnosis of HCV, being a major diagnostic breakthrough.

Key words:
hepatitis; national programs; saliva