Abstract: Objective To investigate the clinical value of detection of HCV-cAg and its relationship with HCV-RNA, ALT and AST. Methods 112 HCV-cAg positive specimens and 205 HCV-Ab positive specimens were collected. Real-time Quantitative PCR method was used to detect HCV-RNA , and at the same time liver function (ALT, AST) was detected. Results There were 95 HCV-RNA-positive cases from the 112 HCV-cAg positive specimens ( a positive rate of 84.8%) and 142 HCV-RNA-positive cases from 205 HCV-Ab positive specimens (a positive rate of 69.3%), respectively, and therewas significantly higher HCV RNA positive rate in the former than that in the latter (P<0.05); The former had 70 cases of abnormal liver function (62.5%) and the latter 95 cases (46.3%). The former was significantly higher than that of the latter (P<0.05).The increase of the value of S/CO in HCV-cAg results was positively correlated with the positive rate of HCV-RNA and the abnormal rate of liver function. Conclusion The positive results of HCV-cAg test highly correlate to HCV-RNA, and reflect the status of liver function. HCV-Ag test has important value in assisted clinical diagnosis.

Key words: Hepatitis C, Hepatitis C virus core antigen, Hepatitis C virus core antibody, Hepatitis C virus RNA, Liver function