Indeterminate third-generation recombinant immunoblot assay in hepatitis C virus infection. Group d'Etudes Moléculaires des Hépatites (GEMHEP).
Third-generation recombinant immunoblot assay is widely used for the validation of the serological diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection. To determine whether indeterminate recombinant immunoblot assay 3.0 patterns may be associated with viral replication and liver disease, 89 indeterminate patterns were studied (67 c22n 14 c33c, 5 c100p and 3 NS5); 35 (39%) had immunosuppression. Serum alanine aminotransferase activity was increased in 49 (55%); HCV RNA was evidenced through polymerase chain reaction in 52 (58%). The observation of indeterminate recombinant immunoblot assay 3.0 justifies investigation of liver disease and search for HCV RNA, since a large proportion of individuals with such patterns are hepatitis C virus-infected.
Laboratory of Biochemistry, Louis-Mourier Hospital, Colombes, Paris, France.
J
J
Lamoril
F
F
Lunel
P
P
Laurent-Puig
C
C
Defer
P
P
Loiseau
J J
JJ
Lefrère
J M
JM
Pawlotsky
P
P
Marcellin
F
F
Bouchardeau
M
M
Bogard
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D014779:Virus Replication
D012367:RNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic