The recommended treatment for chronic Hepatitis C infection involves a 48-week course of pegylated interferon-alpha (Peg-IFN-x) combined with ribavirin, but some patients will not respond completely to treatment and are unable to clear the infection. Failure to clear the virus and the subsequent need for long-term treatment lead to a significant mortality rate among Canadians.
Recently, several genetic polymorphisms (SNPs) near the IL28B gene have been shown to be strongly associated with treatment response and a person’s ability or inability to clear the Hepatitis C virus.
This test genotypes patients for 3 SNPs that are linked with viral clearance, using DNA that is isolated from a peripheral blood sample. This genetic information aids in the prognostic evaluation of patients being treated for chronic Hepatitis C virus infection and helps to identify those patients most likely to benefit from conventional therapy.
Test is available through your Ordering Physician. A copy of the requisition is available below.
Tests available: