[Evaluation on the use of detection of hepatitis C core antigen for screening blood donor].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the value of detection of hepatitis C virus core antigen (HCV-cAg) for screening blood donor by using the internal reagent enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and anti-HCV antibody.


METHODS
The first and repeat assays were performed for detection of serum anti-HCV and HCV-cAg ELISA in 3972 donor's serum specimens from August to October of 2004. Twenty-five donors positive for anti-HCV were tested with HCV-cAg EIA kits and the results were compared with the results of HCV RNA determination with RT-PCR method.


RESULTS
In 3972 donor's serum samples, only 1 serum specimen was positive for HCV RNA identification among 10 specimens which were positive for anti-HCV in first assays, and only 1 serum specimens was positive for HCV RNA identification among 12 specimens positive for anti-HCV in repeat assays, only 2 serum specimens were positive HCV RNA identification in 3 specimens which were positive for HCV-cAg assays.


CONCLUSIONS
The sensitivity of HCV-cAg ELISA is similar to HCV RT-PCR, but it is much cheaper. Therefore, HCV-cAg ELISA and anti-HCV may be used together to screen blood donor.
Wang
Fu-cheng
FC
Central Blood Station of Jinhua, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321000, China.
Shi
Zhi-yong
ZY
Cai
Jun
J
Su
Jun
J
D001782:Blood Donors; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000097:blood*
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014758:Viral Core Proteins