Hep C Discussion Forum

FIBROSpect HCV fibrosis test - utilizes 3 "bio-markers". The biomarkers are analyzed using assays for:

-           alpha-2 macroglobulin (AMG) by nephelometry

-           tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1) by chemiluminescence

-           hyaluronic acid (HA) by ELISA. 

The results are expressed in an overall "index" (0 to 100), which then further converts to a fibrosis score scale (F0 to F4), BUT the index does not indicate "precisely" if you are F0, F1, F2, F3 or F4, rather, it just "generally" indicates whether you are within the F0-1 range, OR, within the F2-4 range. It does not differentiate the Fscore more specifically, beyond being within one of these 2 groupings or categories - either, in the F0-1 range, OR in the F2-4 range - so, FibroSpect offers good but limited info.

As far as I am understanding, with FibroSpect for HCV - an "index score of 41 or lower" puts you into a F0 to F1 category, and an "index score of 42 to 100" puts you in a F2 to F4 category. Although, I did perhaps see a newer FibroSpect II test, which is about the same, except, where the same index score (41 or lower) puts you in the F0 to F2 range, and (42 or higher) puts you in the F3 to F4 range.

They offer similar FibroSpect test for NASH as well.

Prometheus Fibrospect

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Through my pre-trial assessments, and all through my drug trial, I had many different kinds of fibrosis-type-marker bloods drawn and other kinds of tests done, and subsequently in my follow-up trial as well, I had these 3 above markers drawn, plus many more different kinds of bloods and specific blood tests drawn for fibrosis study purposes, and all of the many different kinds of blood tests collected and used (for estimating fibrosis levels) were complimented with other kinds of assessments (pre-treatment and post-treatment) such as physicals, abdominal ultrasounds, abdominal CAT scan (and "FibroSCANS" as well) to assist in determinations.

The more info (and combined info), from multiple methods and sources of data/tests (that can lend further confirmation), consistently repeated, over time, the better (I think), for the closest determinations of the extent of a person fibrosis.

See also, only a few, of the many other kinds of fibrosis/assessment tests that exist, here:

Fibro-sure (also called Fibro-test), the Acti-test, and the Apri-test  

and,   About Fibroscans - or VCTE - (Vibration Controlled Transient Elastrography)