title: The usefulness of Umelosa hepatitis C vírus qualitative kit as supplemental test for confirmation of hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: Forty voluntary blood donors from two different blood banks in Havana, Cuba, who were repeatedly reactive on the routine screening of antibodies to hepatitis C virus, by Umelisa HCV test, were analyzed for the presence of HCV RNA using a nested PCR assay of the HCV 5' untranslated region, Umelosa HCV qualitative. Sera from 45 patients of a specialized gastroenterology consultation, positive to Umelisa HCV, were also assayed with the Umelosa HCV qualitative, to establish their condition related to the presence of HCV RNA previously to the indication of a treatment or after three, six or twelve months of antiviral therapy. Serum HCV-RNA was detected in 21/40 (52.5%) donors who had repeatedly positive ELISA results, confirming the HCV infection for them. In specialized consultation HCV-RNA was detected by PCR analysis in 30/45 (66%) analyzed sera.
authors.affiliation: ImmunoAssay Center, La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Idania
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Perez
authors.forename: Yaimé Josefina
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: González González
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vina-Rodriguez
authors.forename: Anny
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Armas Cayarga
authors.forename: Rosa Lydia
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Solís
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic