ELISA in serodiagnosis of HCV infection.
A high level of anti-HCV is generally associated with viral replication and the number of recognized epitopes appears to be correlated with the viral charge. Nevertheless, the absence of detectable antibodies in about 60% of patients during the acute phase of the disease and in 10% of chronically infected (generally immunocompromised subjects) are heavy handicaps for HCV serology. Moreover, low levels of anti-HCV antibodies can persist after complete recovery, and HCV viremia does not appear to be associated with the presence of a special antibody specificity. The immunoblots presented as 'confirmatory test' always appear to be less sensitive than the screening tests and therefore are unable to discriminate between post-infection antibodies and false-positive reactions, as rare as they can be. In these cases, as in non-responder patients, PCR appears essential. The possible reasons of immune response limitations and the possible improvements of HCV serology are discussed.
Pillot
J
J
WHO Centre for Reference and Research on Viral Hepatitis, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Rioche
M
M
Lazizi
Y
Y
D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D012698:Serologic Tests
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D007075:Immunoglobulin M