Evaluation of first- and second-generation RIBA kits for detection of antibody to hepatitis C virus.
Samples reactive by first-generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) to detect antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) (RIBA-1 [Chiron, Calif.]) remained reactive by a second-generation test (RIBA-2) for HCV antibodies. A total of 75% of specimens indeterminate by RIBA-1 became reactive, 12.5% were nonreactive, and 12.5% remained indeterminate by RIBA-2. Among RIBA-1-nonreactive specimens, 12.0% became positive and 5.1% became indeterminate by RIBA-2. The antigens c33c and c22-3 have increased the sensitivity of RIBA-2.
Chaudhary
R K
RK
Laboratory for Viral Hepatitis, Health and Welfare, Ottawa, Canada.
MacLean
C
C
D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies