title: Evaluation of five screening tests licensed in Argentina for detection of hepatitis C virus antibodies.
abstract: This study was conducted to compare among the most recent generation of five screening tests licensed in Argentina, in order to evaluate which of the tests has the best sensitivity for detection of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV). The tests analyzed were: Detect-HCV (3.0) Biochem ImmunoSystems, Canada; Hepatitis C EIA Wiener Lab., Argentina; Equipar HCV Ab, Italy; Murex HCV 4.0, UK and Serodia-HCV particles agglutination test, Japan. The results obtained showed high discrepancy between the different kits used and show that some of the tests assessed have a low sensitivity for anti-HCV detection in both chronic infections and early seroconversion, and indicate that among the commercially available kits in Argentina, Murex HCV 4.0 (UK) and Serodia-HCV particles agglutination test (Japan) have the best sensitivity for HCV screening. Although the sensitivity of the assays is the first parameter to be considered for blood screening, more studies should be carried out to assess the specificity of such assays.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina. contigia@cmefcm.uncor.edu
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ré
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallego
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Treviño
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbás
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Domínguez
authors.forename: Osvaldo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Elbarcha
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bepre
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Contigiani
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic