丙型肝炎病毒RNA定量血清
Several methods are available for measuring the titer or level of virus in serum, which is an indirect assessment of viral load. 幾種方法可用於測量水平的滴度或血清中的病毒，這是一個間接的評估病毒載量。 These methods include a quantitative PCR and a branched DNA (bDNA) test. 這些方法包括定量PCR和一個分支DNA （ bDNA ）測試。 Unfortunately, these assays are not standardized, and different methods from different laboratories can provide different results on the same specimen. 不幸的是，這些檢測是不規範，以及不同的方法從不同的實驗室可以提供不同的結果在同一標本。 In addition, serum levels of HCV RNA can vary spontaneously by 3- to 10-fold over time. 此外，血清中丙型肝炎病毒RNA可以改變自發3 - 10倍的時間。 Nevertheless, when performed carefully, quantitative assays provide important insights into the nature of hepatitis C. Viral load does not correlate with the severity of the hepatitis or with a poor prognosis (as it seems to in HIV infection); but viral load does correlate with the likelihood of a response to antiviral therapy. 然而，當謹慎，定量分析提供了重要的見解的性質 ， 丙型肝炎病毒載量與不相關的嚴重性肝炎或預後不良（因為它似乎在艾滋病毒感染） ，但病毒載量並不相關 ， 的可能性響應抗病毒治療。 Rates of response to a course of alpha interferon and ribavirin are higher in patients with low levels of HCV RNA. 響應率的過程中α - 干擾素及利巴韋林較高水平低的患者丙型肝炎病毒RNA 。 There are several definitions of a "low level" of HCV RNA, but the usual definition is below 2 million copies per milliliter (mL). 有幾種定義的“低層次”的丙型肝炎病毒RNA ，但通常的定義是低於2萬冊每毫升（毫升） 。

In addition, monitoring viral load during the early phases of treatment may provide early information on the likelihood of a response. 此外，在監測病毒載量的早期階段 ， 早期治療可能會提供的資料的可能性的反應。 Yet because of the shortcomings of the current assays for HCV RNA level, these tests are not reliable guides to therapy. 然而 ， 由於目前的缺陷檢測的丙型肝炎病毒RNA水平，這些試驗是不可靠的指導治療。 More sensitive and reliable methods of quantitating HCV RNA in serum are needed. Until that time, these tests should not be routinely used in practice. 更敏感和可靠的方法quantitating血清中丙型肝炎病毒RNA是必要的。在此之前，這些測試不應該經常使用的做法。