title: Detection of hepatitis C virus infection with recombinant immunoblot assay, synthetic immunoblot assay, and polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: The newly developed immunoblot assay, RIBA SIA (recombinant and synthetic polypeptide immunoblot assay), Chiron, Calif., was compared with the commercially available second generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA-2) for the detection of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). The two immunoblot tests were also compared with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of HCV RNA. Ninety-one percent of samples reactive by RIBA-2 were positive for anti-HCV by RIBA SIA. A total of 31% of RIBA-2 indeterminate samples became reactive by RIBA SIA, 24% became non-reactive, and 45% remained the same. Samples reactive by RIBA-2 or SIA from different risk groups, were mostly positive (67-100%) by PCR for HCV RNA. All indeterminate samples from hemophiliacs and intravenous drug users were PCR positive. RIBA SIA is more sensitive and specific than RIBA-2 and correlates well with PCR results.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Viral Hepatitis, Health and Welfare Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andonov
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: MacLean
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral