Diagnostic Evaluation of Patients with Chronic HCV Infection

Since the HCV genome and polyprotein were identified in recent years, a large number of laboratory tests for the diagnosis and assessment of HCV infection have been created. Moreover, the usefulness of needle liver biopsy in the assessment of chronic HCV infection has been revisited. In this survey we have reviewed the new techniques and procedures mainly on the basis of the research of the Italian Project on Liver Cirrhosis and Viral Hepatitis and of our own experiences, so as to suggest their optimal use in diagnosing and monitoring chronic HCV infection.