Lack of evidence of hepatitis C infection in 290 blood component recipients, demonstrated by several single-antigen research immunoassays.
BACKGROUND
A group of 290 transfusion recipients enrolled in a prospective study of posttransfusion hepatitis was studied to determine the possibility of previously unrecognized hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission.


METHODS
Before and after transfusion, blood specimens that were negative in first-generation enzyme immunoassay (EIA) were tested by current commercial EIAs, several single-antigen research EIAs, and supplemental tests.


RESULTS
Current second- and third-generation EIAs identified five subjects (1.7% of total) who had chronic hepatitis C before transfusion. Twenty additional sera had some reactivity with research EIAs. However, those results were the same before and after transfusion (n = 7), had reverted to partially reactive or nonreactive (n = 8), or could not be confirmed by serologic tests or polymerase chain reaction in follow-up specimens (n = 5).


CONCLUSIONS
Transient or restricted reactivity to HCV antigens measured by more sensitive research EIAs does not seem to correspond to recent HCV transmission by transfusion. Whether such reactivity could reflect remote HCV infection, with the potential for chronic or intermittent viremia, remains to be determined.
Henrard
D R
DR
Department of Medical Research, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois, USA.
Berthillon
P
P
Scheffel
J W
JW
Ladaique
P L
PL
Moore
B S
BS
Pailhous
M C
MC
Finetti
P H
PH
Trépo
C
C
D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens