title: Improved detection of hepatitis C virus antibodies in high-risk populations.
abstract: Sera from 483 patients at high (group 1, n = 313) and lower (group 2, n = 170) risk for exposure to hepatitis C were tested for antibodies to hepatitis C using first-generation (c100-3) and second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and four-antigen recombinant immunoblot assay. The second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and nitrocellulose-based immunoblot assay differ from c100-3-based systems in the addition of expression products from the NS3/NS4 (c33c, c200) and putative nucleocapsid (c22-3) region of the hepatitis C genome. In group 1, the sensitivity of detection of hepatitis C antibodies was 45%, 55% and 46% by the first- and second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and recombinant immunoblot assay, respectively. In group 2, antibodies were detected by each test system in 26%, 32% and 7% of patients, respectively. Most sera (99%) reactive with the first-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were reactive with the second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (in group 1, 89% of these specimens demonstrated reactivity to at least one antigen with the immunoblot assay, compared with only 31% in group 2). An additional 12% (group 1) and 6% (group 2) of specimens demonstrated reactivity with the second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay only (of these, 75% [group 1] and 9% [group 2] demonstrated reactivity to at least one antigen with the immunoblot assay). Ninety-eight percent of specimens not reactive with both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test systems were also nonreactive by recombinant immunoblot assay.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: McHutchison
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Person
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Govindarajan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Valinluck
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gore
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nelles
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polito
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DiNello
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies