Fujibio Hepatitis C Test Kit

Hepatitis C is a virus that can infect the liver. If left untreated, it can sometimes cause serious and potentially life-threatening damage to the liver over many years.

However, with modern treatments it's often possible to cure the infection, and most people with it will have a normal life expectancy.

You can become infected with it if you come into contact with the blood of an infected person.

How do you get hepatitis C?

The hepatitis C virus is usually spread through blood-to-blood contact.
Some ways the infection can be spread include:

• sharing unsterilised needles – particularly needles used to inject recreational drugs 
• sharing razors or toothbrushes 
• from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby 
• through unprotected sex – although this is very rare 

In the UK, most hepatitis C infections occur in people who inject drugs or have injected them in the past. It's estimated around half of those who inject drugs have the infection.

Getting tested for hepatitis C

Seek medical advice if you have persistent symptoms of hepatitis C or there's a risk you're infected, even if you don't have any symptoms. A blood test can be carried out to see if you have the infection.

You can test yourself for hepatitis C by using Fujibio Hepatitis C Rapid Test Kit. It is accurate and result within 15 minutes.

Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent or limit any damage to your liver, as well as help ensure the infection isn't passed on to other people.

Fujibio Hepatitis C Rapid Test Kit

Fujibio Hepatitis C Rapid Test Kit is an indirect lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of lgG and lgM anti-Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in human serum, plasma or whole blood. It is intended to be used as a screening test and as an aid in the diagnosis of infection with HCV. Any reactive specimen with the HCV Ab Combo Rapid Test must be confirmed with alternative testing method(s) and clinical findings.

Fujibio Hepatitis C Rapid Test Kit is indirect lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay. The test cassette contains of: 1) a burgundy colored conjugate pad containing proprietary recombinant protein A conjugated with colloidal gold (Protein A conjugates),2) a nitrocellulose membrane strip containing a test band(C band). The T band is pre-coated with recombinant HCV antigens, and the C band is pre-coated with anti-protein A antibodies.

When an adequate volume of test specimen is dispensed into the sample well of the test cassette, the specimen migrates by capillary action across the cassette. The IgM or IgG antibody to HCV if present in the specimen will bind to the HCV conjugates. The immunocomplex is then captured on the membrane by the pre-coated non-conjugated HCV antigens, forming a burgundy colored T band, indicating a HCV Ab positive test results.

Absence of the T band suggests a negative result. The test contains an internal control (C band) which should be exhibit a burgundy colored band of the immunocomplex of anti-protein A IgG/protein A-gold conjugate regardless of color development on the T band. Otherwise, the test result is invalid and the specimen must be retested with another device.

ASSAY PROCEDURE

Step 1: Bring the specimen and test components to room temperature or frozen. Mix the specimen well prior to assay once thawed.
Step 2: When ready to test, open the pouch at the notch and remove device. Place the test device on a clean , flat surface.
Step 3: Be sure to label the device with specimen’s ID number.
Step 4: For whole blood test
-Dispense 1 drop (about 40-50ul) of the whole blood specimen into the sample well,
Step 5: Set up timer.
Step 6: Resultys can be read in 15 minutes. Positive results can be visible as in short as 1 minute.
Don’t read result after 15 minutes. To avoid confusion, discard the test device after interpreting the result.

INTERPRETATION OF ASSAY RESULT

1. NEGATIVE RESULT: If on;y the C band is developed, the test indicates that no detectable antibodies to HCV are present in the specimen. The result is negative.

2. POSITIVE RESULTS: If both C and T bands are developed, the test indicates for the presence of antibodies to HCV in the specimen. The result is positive.

Samples with positive results should be confirmed with alternative testing method(s) and clinical findings before a positive determination is made.

3. INVALID: If no C band is developed, the assay is invalid regardless of color development on the T band as indicated below. Repeat the assay with a new device.Preventing hepatitis C

There's no vaccine for hepatitis C, but there are ways to reduce your risk of becoming infected.
These include:

• not sharing any drug-injecting equipment with other people – including needles and other equipment such as syringes, spoons and filters 
• not sharing razors or toothbrushes that might be contaminated with blood 

Treatments for hepatitis C

Hepatitis C can be treated with a combination of medicines that stop the virus multiplying inside the body. These usually need to be taken for several months.

Most people will take two main medications called pegylated interferon (a weekly injection) and ribavirin (a capsule or tablet), although newer tablet-only treatments are likely to replace the interferon injections for most people in the near future.

These newer hepatitis C medications have been found to make treatment more effective. They include simeprevir, sofosbuvir and daclatasvir.

Using the latest medications, up to 90% or more of people with hepatitis C may be cured.

However, it's important to be aware that you won't be immune to the infection and should take steps to reduce your risk of becoming infected again.