title: Performance characteristics of the ARCHITECT anti-HCV assay.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ARCHITECT Anti-HCV assay is a fully automated high throughput chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) for the detection of antibodies to structural and nonstructural proteins of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). To further enhance the performance of this test, the assay was modified to improve the specificity for blood donor specimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  The specificity of the enhanced ARCHITECT Anti-HCV assay was evaluated by screening blood donor samples randomly collected from various German blood banks, as well as hospitalized patient samples derived from Germany and the US. Additionally, antibody sensitivity was determined on commercially available anti-HCV seroconversion panels and on a commercially available worldwide anti-HCV genotype performance panel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Apparent specificity of the modified ARCHITECT Anti-HCV assay in a blood donor population consisting of 3811 specimens was 99.92%, compared to 99.76% for the current on-market assay. Additionally, antibody sensitivity was determined on commercially available anti-HCV seroconversion panels. Seroconversion sensitivity equivalent to or better than the current on-market product was observed by testing 33 seroconversion panels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that the modified version of the ARCHITECT Anti-HCV assay shows improved specificity for blood donor specimens compared to the current assay on market without compromising sensitivity. With the availability of the improved ARCHITECT Anti-HCV assay and the recent launch of the ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo assay, the ARCHITECT system now offers a full hepatitis/retrovirus menu with excellent performance on a high throughput, random access, automated analyzer, ideally suited for blood screening and diagnostic applications.
authors.affiliation: Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Ring 2, 65205 Wiesbaden, Germany. gesa.jonas@abbott.com
authors.forename: Gesa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jonas
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pelzer
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beckert
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hausmann
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kapprell
mesh_terms: D001331:Automation / Q000379:methods*; D001782:Blood Donors; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies