title: Evaluation of the performance of the EIAgen HCV test for detection of hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: The EIAgen HCV test (Adaltis Inc., Montreal, Canada) is an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies. This study compared the performance of this test side-by-side with the current Ortho HCV 3.0 Anti-HCV assay (Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics Inc., Johnson & Johnson Company, Raritan, NY, USA). Among 2559 specimens examined, 178 were true positives, 2376 were true negatives and 5 were indeterminate. The sensitivity of the EIAgen HCV test was 100%, versus 98.3% for the Ortho HCV test, while their respective specificities were 98.1% and 98.2%. The EIAgen HCV test gave a positive predictive value of 79.8% and a negative predictive value of 100%. Overall, the concordance of this test with the Ortho HCV test was 98.2%. Specimens from potentially interfering substances, such as sera from pregnant women, sera from patients with acute non-C hepatitis, autoimmune diseases, lipidemia, or from patients undergoing hemolysis, showed no interference with either EIA. An EIAgen HCV test signal-to-cut-off ratio of >5.9 would be highly predictive of a true-positive finding in these specimens. The EIAgen HCV test is well suited for screening blood and blood products in antibodies to HCV.
authors.affiliation: Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Beijing 100044, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Fu-Rong
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Wen-Li
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Houde
authors.forename: Shao-Cai
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Chang-Li
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Lai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic