title: Successful use of two rapid HCV assays in a high prevalence Romanian population.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is of significant concern for recipients of blood and for patients who share resources such as hemodialysis machines. In many developing countries and in small peripheral laboratories, facilities and capabilities to perform ELISA assays may not be available. We evaluated two newly marketed rapid HCV serologic assays to determine their ability and suitability to detect antibodies to HCV in hemodialysis patients in Bucharest, Romania. Results indicated that both the Rapid HCV Ab assay (Clonatec, Paris, France) and the HCV-SPOT (Diagnostic Biotechnology, Singapore) detected HCV antibody in 23 of 27 patients. All 23 samples were also reactive by a routine HCV ELISA and were confirmed using a supplemental assay (HCV blot, Diagnostic Biotechnology, Singapore). Only one sample produced equivocal result by the Rapid HCV Ab assay. In this high prevalence population (90%), the use of recombinant or synthetic peptide rapid HCV assays has been successful in detecting confirmed positive cases of HCV and has shown excellent correlation with an ELISA screening assay. The tests are simple to perform, can be performed by individuals with minimal training, and have built-in quality control measures. We conclude that these tests may have important applicability in certain testing situations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Constantine
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holm-Hansen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Skaug
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vasilescu
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies