Analysis of sera indeterminate by Ortho-HCV RIBA-2 by using three confirmatory assays for anti-hepatitis C virus antibody.
The diagnostic performances of three commercially available recombinant immunoblot assays (RIBAs) for anti-hepatitis C virus antibody were evaluated on 50 ORTHO-HCV RIBA-2 (RIBA-2)-indeterminate serum samples. Concordant interpretations were obtained with the three tests in 60% of the samples, with 56% positive, 2% indeterminate, and 2% negative results. Considering test performance in regard to the number of remaining indeterminate results, analyzing sera by RIBA-3, INNO-LIA HCV Ab III, and DECISCAN HCV reduced the number of samples reacting indeterminately to 40, 6, and 8%, respectively. The three serum samples classified as indeterminate in the INNO-LIA HCV Ab III as well as three of four serum samples interpreted as indeterminate in the DECISCAN HCV and 16 of 20 samples classified as indeterminate in the RIBA-3 were hepatitis C virus RNA positive by PCR. This study clearly shows the good performance of the three tests as confirmatory assays compared with that of the RIBA-2. However, according to the manufacturers' criteria of positivity, the INNO-LIA HCV Ab III and DECISCAN HCV appeared to be more suitable than the RIBA-3 for interpreting serum samples found indeterminate in the RIBA-2.
Dussaix
E
E
Department of Virology, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
Charnaux
N
N
Laurent-Puig
P
P
Chopineau
S
S
Laurian
Y
Y
Buffet
C
C
D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014766:Viremia / Q000382:microbiology
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic