Evaluation of in vitro screening and diagnostic kits for hepatitis C virus infection

In vitro diagnostic kits assessing anti-HCV and HCV RNA have sufficient sensitivities and specificities to screen and detect HCV infection. However, HCV core antigen quantification kits have some limitations in their sensitivities and consistencies for diagnosis of HCV infection. Quality control with International Standards and a regional reference panel is important to maintain the performances of diagnostic kits for HCV infection and to verify the clinical reliability of these kits.