WHAT IS A PCR?
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) . Basically, your blood sample is broken up and certain parts are "fed" to E.coli bacteria, which grow real fast. then when there are enough of them, they are put into the "bacteria-matic". Then that stuff is separated, and the remains are x-rayed, producing that pretty sheet of stripes that you see in cops an robbers shows and the OJ trial.
There are 2 sets, one side is the control, which is a known HCV, the other side is you. If they match you have the virus. - Bruce B.
There are 3 major tests for HCV.
1) The ELISA test detects antibody to the virus.
2) The RIBA test is the confirmatory test for HCV.
3) The Quantitative HCV PCR test, which measures the amount of virus circulating in a person's blood stream.
Click on the links below to read more about PCR
Viral load may not be linked to liver damage
Sustained response to INF rarely achieved with high viral load
HCV RNA levels & genotypes: Their significance
How Viral Load Relates to Liver Injury
Correlaton Between Number of HCV Particles and Disease Activity
Cryoglobulenimia as a Cause of False-Negative PCR Results
Are Human Platelets A Site Of HCV Replication?
Role of PCR in Defining Infectiousness of HCV
How is testing for HCV done is what is the significance of a positive test
A search for hepatitis C virus polymerase chain reaction-positive but seronegative subjects
Effective detection of active HCV infection
Comparison of Plasma Virus Loads
Viral Load and Enzyme Levels Do Not Predict Severity of Liver Disease in HCV
Virus titre and histological inflammation activity in chronic hepatitis C
Comparison of viral loads done by various methods
Indeterminate PCR and the Influence of Genotypes
Comparison of quantitative HCV RNA assays in chronic hepatitis C
HCV Titer, ALT Elevation, and Liver Histology
Circulating HCV RNA Does Not Increase Pregnancy Complications
HCV-RNA Levels and Response to Interferon
HCV Titer, ALT Elevation, and Liver Histology
Indeterminate PCR and the Influence of Genotypes