Detection of hepatitis C virus core antigen for early diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection in plasma donor in China.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of a new hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen assay developed in China.


METHODS
After the determination of HCV infection, 49 serial samples were selected from 11 regular plasma donors in 5 different plasma stations. To compare the performance of HCV core antigen detection and HCV PCR, these samples were genotyped, and each specimen was analyzed by ELISA for the detection of HCV core antigen and by qualitative HCV PCR.


RESULTS
Among all of the sequential samples, the original 13 specimens were HCV RNA-negative, and 36 samples were HCV RNA-positive. Twenty-seven samples (75%) were HCV core antigen-positive from these HCV RNA-positive specimens. Conversely, 27 samples (93.1%) were found HCV RNA-positive in HCV core antigen-positive samples. Intervals between HCV RNA and HCV core antigen-positive, as well as between HCV core antigen-positive and HCV antibody-positive were 36.0 and 32.8 d, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This HCV core antigen assay, developed in China, is able to detect much of anti-HCV-negative, HCV RNA-positive preseroconversion window period (PWP) plasma donations.
Zhang
He-Qiu
HQ
Department of Vaccine Engineering, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, 27 Taiping Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100850, China. zhangheqiu2004@yahoo.com.cn
Li
Shao-Bo
SB
Wang
Guo-Hua
GH
Chen
Kun
K
Song
Xiao-Guo
XG
Feng
Xiao-Yan
XY
D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D002681:China; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000191:economics; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000191:economics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000097:blood*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014758:Viral Core Proteins