Question

Explain and describe the key differences between these two sets of experiments:

Sets of Experiments I: HCV Status Experiments

In the first set of experiments, examine the blood samples of individuals with known HCV status. There are three groups of individuals in this experimental set: (1) individuals with chronic hepatitis C (this includes patients known to have chronic hepatitis C or blood donors who are known to have passed HCV onto recipients); (2) individuals with acute hepatitis C infections or blood donors who may have passed HCV onto recipients; (3) a control group of individuals, including normal blood donors (long time blood donors with no history of passing HCV onto recipients) or patients with hepatitis caused by alcohol or primary biliary cirrhosis. Repeat the assay four times per sample to assure consistency.

Sets of Experiments II: Blood Transfusion Recipients Experiments

In the second set of experiments, examine the blood of transfusion recipients known to have received blood from HCV positive donors. Assay the positive donors to determine the levels of HCV antibodies in their blood. Assay the recipients' blood every three months for twelve months in order to determine if HCV antibody levels increase or remain stable. As a control, assay recipients of blood transfusion from blood donors who were negative according to the HCV antibody assay. Assay the recipients of these negative donors every three months for twelve months.

Answer 1

Hepatitis C test:

A blood test called a hepatitis C antibody test is used to find out if patient have ever been encountered with hepatitis C antigen.

It is also called anti-HCV test which looks for hepatitis C virus.

People infected with hepatitis C virus develop a chronic or lifelong infection.

Nonreactive Hepatitis C antibody test:

Nonreactive or negative hepatitis test represent that you are not currently infected with hepatitis C virus.

Reactive Hepatitis C antibody test:

The reactive or positive hepatitis C test means that you have been infected with hepatitis C virus at some point in life.

Once they are infected they will always contain antibodies in the blood. These antibodies will may increase or remain constant depending upon the exposure.

In the first set of experiment the test shows that the chronic hepatitis C blood donors will definitely infect the recipient with the created antibodies, while the acute hepatitis C doner is more likely to infect the recipient. But the non infected liver cirrhosis person have the chance to develop hepatitis with a single exposure to the virus and can infect the receipt.

The second set of experiment determines increase in antibodies of HCV. Blood transfusion with the infected doner have more chances of having chronic hepatitis rather least possible chances of having acute hepatitis. HCV are more prone to develop antibodies in the blood.