The Role of the Lab in Diagnosing and Monitoring Hepatitis C Virus Infection

The World Health Organization estimated that during 2019, 58 million people worldwide were living with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) which causes inflammation of the liver.  All types of hepatitis can be controlled or prevented. There is a cure for Hepatitis C; however, HCV infection is often undiagnosed because it remains asymptomatic until symptoms appear that are related to serious liver damage, a complication of the infection. 
 
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dr. Bijal Parikh is the Medical Director of the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory and Assistant Professor of Pathology & Immunology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. 
He is the author of numerous publications with his clinical research centered on aspects of laboratory testing involving viral, immunologic, and molecular diagnostics, with a specific focus on the implementation of next-generation sequencing approaches.  Recently, Dr. Parikh authored an article published in the Clinical Microbiology Newsletter titled Laboratory Strategies for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Hepatitis C Virus Infection.