Hepatitis C Plasma

Hepatitis C Plasma for Virology and Antiviral Research

Hepatitis C Plasma is collected from IRB-consented donors clinically diagnosed with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and processed within hours of collection to preserve viral RNA, cytokines, proteins, and metabolites. Because this plasma contains circulating viral RNA, it supports viral load quantification, sequencing, biomarker discovery, and antiviral response research.

Why Plasma for Hepatitis C Research

HCV is a chronic viral infection studied through virology and the host immune response to infection, not through autoimmunity. Plasma is the conventional matrix for HCV RNA work because it is collected with anticoagulant and separated without clotting, which preserves circulating viral particles and avoids the analyte shifts a clotting step introduces.

• Circulating viral RNA — HCV is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus that circulates as lipoviral particles associated with host lipoproteins, making plasma the direct source for viral load quantification and sequencing
• Genotype and quasispecies diversity — error-prone replication by the NS5B polymerase generates substantial intra-host variation and multiple genotypes, which is the basis for resistance-associated substitution analysis
• Direct-acting antiviral targets are viral proteins — NS3/4A protease, NS5A, and NS5B polymerase are the targets of current curative regimens, and plasma-derived viral sequence is how resistance is characterised
• Active infection versus resolved infection are different cohorts — anti-HCV antibodies persist after spontaneous clearance or sustained virological response, so RNA-positive viraemic donors and RNA-negative cured donors must be specified separately; both are available
• Progression and extrahepatic biology — chronic infection drives hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, and is associated with mixed cryoglobulinaemia, giving plasma value beyond virology alone
• Anticoagulant choice matters — EDTA plasma is the standard matrix for viral nucleic acid quantification; alternative anticoagulants are available where downstream assays require them

Donor Stratification Available

• Virological status — RNA-positive active viraemia, spontaneously cleared, or post-treatment sustained virological response
• Viral load — HCV RNA level reported per lot where measured
• Genotype — where determined and available
• Treatment status — treatment-naive, on direct-acting antiviral therapy, or post-treatment
• Liver status — ALT, fibrosis stage, or cirrhosis where recorded
• Co-infection — HIV or hepatitis B co-infection where documented
• Matched healthy controls available — demographically matched HCV-negative donors

Product Features

• Research Use Only (RUO)
• Plasma collected from clinically confirmed Hepatitis C donors
• Processed within one day of collection
• IRB-approved protocols and informed consent
• Custom aliquot volumes and anticoagulant types available upon request

De-identified Donor Data

• Verified Hepatitis C diagnosis
• Demographic data: age, sex assigned at birth, race/ethnicity
• Donor-reported medications, allergies, and comorbidities
• Additional Hepatitis C-specific metadata, including virological values, available on request

Applications

• HCV RNA quantification and viral kinetics research
• Viral sequencing, genotyping, and resistance-associated substitution analysis
• Direct-acting antiviral response and treatment-failure research
• Serological and molecular assay development and validation
• Cytokine, chemokine, and inflammation profiling in chronic infection
• Liver fibrosis and disease progression biomarker discovery
• Metabolomic and proteomic profiling across viraemic and cured donors
• Reference and control material for infectious disease testing platforms

Other Hepatitis C Specimen Types

Matched material from the same HCV donor pool is available as hepatitis C serum, whole blood, PBMC, and leukopak. Larger volumes are available as hepatitis C bulk plasma.

Compliance and Quality Assurance

• IRB-approved and HIPAA-compliant protocols
• Electronic informed consent with 21 CFR Part 11 – compliant e-signatures
• Documentation support available for regulatory review

Ordering & Customization

Hepatitis C plasma is available in standard and custom volumes. For pricing, international orders, or documentation requirements, please email learnmore@sanguinebio.com to ensure compatibility with your country’s regulations. To browse the full specimen range and healthy-donor controls, see our human plasma collection.