The differences in routine CBC, biochemical and coagulation test results between high and low hepatitis C viremia subjects

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) has outlined a set of targets to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030, thus in 2022, Lithuanian authorities initiated an HCV screening program to eliminate HCV. The aim was to evaluate CBC, biochemical, and coagulation tests in high and low HCV viremia. Methods: The 300 random subjects who participated in a screening program for HCV infection were included in the study-230 subjects (144M/86F) with high viremia (>800000 cop/mL) as hiVG, and 70 subjects (32M/38F) with low viremia (<800000 cop/mL) as loVG. All subjects were anti-HCV positive. Viremia was evaluated using qRT-PCR, and the genotype was assessed using VERSANT HCV Genotype 2.0 Assay Kit, CBC-BC UNICel DxH800 analyzer, biochemical tests-BC AU680 Clinical Chemistry Analyzer, and coagulation tests-Stago STAR Max analyzer. Results: The results showed significant differences between hiVG and loVG in biochemical, CBC, and coagulation tests results had significant differences between groups: RBC, HGB, HCT, WBC, PLT, PCT, AFP, ALP, DBIL, TBIL, ALB, SPA by sec., %, and INR, p<0.05. The hiVG and loVG were separated by gender into four groups. Results showed that the differences in males hiVG and loVG groups were the same as in the general subjects’ pool; however, in females, differences were found only in RBC, HGB, and ALB, p<0.05. When comparing results to the normal range, we found that: • males-hiVG had lower PLT, RBC, and PCT results but higher ALT, GGT, and AST; • males-loVG had lower SPA(%), PCT, PLT results, but higher SPA(sec.), ALT, AST; • females-hiVG had lower PLT, PCT, and SPA INR results but higher AST, ALT, and GGT; • females-loVG had lower PLT, PCT, and ALB results but higher SPA (sec.), SPA(%), and GGT. Conclusion: Active infection with the hepatitis C virus, depending on the gender and viremia level, changes the results of CBC, biochemical, and coagulation tests. Therefore, we recommend a complete workup of patients when HCV viremia is detected.