Comparison of second-generation screening and confirmatory assays with recombinant antigens and synthetic peptides against antibodies to hepatitis C virus: a study in renal patients.
The aim of this study was to compare some common tests which are nowadays routinely used to screen and to confirm anti-HCV antibodies in renal patients. There was agreement between Ortho 2 and Abbott 2 in 94% of samples; structural and nonstructural beads of the Abbott supplementary assay were in agreement with 4-RIBA in 98 and in 85% of samples, respectively; 61% of Ortho 2 samples and 65% of Abbott 2 samples were confirmed by 4-RIBA; there was a correlation between semiquantitative analysis of screening tests (Ortho 2 and Abbott 2) and positive results by 4-RIBA; 36 and 33% of Ortho-2- and Abbott-2-positive samples were 4-RIBA indeterminate: in these instances more sophisticated techniques (polymerase chain reaction) (PCR) could be useful as a third-level assay. The comparison between Ortho 2, based on recombinant antigens, and Innotest, based on synthetic peptides, showed agreement only in 44% of samples, but this preliminary comparison cannot afford definitive conclusions. These findings suggest that second-generation assays may sometimes yield conflicting results in renal patients. These contradictions will be resolved by new HCV tests or PCR.
Fabrizi
F
F
Department of Nephrology, Hospital of Lecco, Italy.
Raffaele
L
L
Guarnori
I
I
Bacchini
G
G
Marai
P
P
Erba
G
G
Locatelli
F
F
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D010455:Peptides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins