Patent ID: 8546075

Claim:
A method of treating a sample suspected of containing HCV to release HCV antigen and to inactivate antibodies that bind to the HCV antigen, which method comprises treating the sample with a treating agent containing: (1) an acidifying agent, (2) an amphoteric surfactant or a cationic surfactant having both a straight chain alkyl group of 10 or more carbon atoms and a tertiary amine or a quaternary ammonium salt in the same molecule, and either of the following (3), (4) and (5): (3) a protein-denaturing agent, a nonionic surfactant or a reducing agent, (4) a monosaccharide or a disaccharide, and (5) citric acid or a citric acid salt, wherein the method effects the release of the HCV antigen and the inactivation of antibodies against the HCV antigen.