title: A method for the detection and confirmation of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in dried blood spots.
abstract: This study describes the development and evaluation of a cost effective test rationale for the detection of anti-HCV in dried blood spots. Samples were screened using an 'in house' IgG ELISA that incorporated the recombinant proteins c22-3, c200 and NS5. Confirmation of specific antibody to HCV was by a modification of the immunoblot RIBA 3.0. An extensive panel of well evaluated anti-HCV positive and negative samples from the UK and South Africa were used to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the two tests. One third of the anti-HCV positive samples had been typed. All anti-HCV positive samples were detected by the 'in house' screening EIA. Test/negative optical density ratios showed that more than 95% of reactive samples produced values greater than 5.0. Antibodies to HCV could be detected in a wide range of samples derived from asymptomatic and symptomatic patients and of different genotypes, with similar sensitivity. The presence of anti-HCV could be confirmed by RIBA 3.0 in samples with low reactivity but not in anti-HCV negative samples. Furthermore the immunoblot assay successfully increased specificity by screening out false reactive EIA samples that might occur in an epidemiological survey of a multi-ethnic population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Camelia Botnar Laboratories, Hospital for Children, London, UK.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Cubitt
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ades
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008131:London; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic