Monitoring of treatment efficacy is based on repeated measurements
of HCV RNA levels. A sensitive, accurate assay with a broad
dynamic range of quantification should be used. The same assay,
ideally from the same laboratory, should be used in each patient
to measure HCV RNA at different time points, in order to assure
consistency of results [57–59].
In order to monitor treatment efficacy, HCV RNA level measurements
should be performed at specific time points.
Measurements should be made to assess patient adherence to
therapy. For some treatment regimens, the HCV RNA level results
obtained can determine whether treatment should be abandoned
(the futility rule) or abbreviated (response-guided therapy). In all
cases, HCV RNA level monitoring indicates whether treatment
has been successful (end of treatment and post-treatment SVR
assessment). Little is known about the impact of the analytical
sensitivity and lower limits of detection or quantification of different
HCV RNA assays for assessment of futility rules and determination
of treatment duration.