title: Test performance characteristics of Anti-HEV IgG assays strongly influence hepatitis E seroprevalence estimates.
abstract: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) seroprevalences of 0.3%-53% were reported from industrialized countries. Because these estimates may be influenced by detection assays, this study compares 3 frequently used tests for HEV detection: the MP Diagnostics HEV immunoglobulin G (IgG) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the Axiom Diagnostics HEV IgG enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and the Mikrogen recomLine HEV IgG assay. Sera from 200 healthy healthcare workers and 30 individuals with acute HEV infection were analyzed. Among the healthy individuals, HEV IgG was found in 4.5% by the MP Diagnostics assay, in 29.5% by the Axiom Diagnostics assay, and in 18% by the Mikrogen assay. Among individuals with acute HEV infection, positive results were obtained for 83.3%, 100%, and 96.7%, respectively. Thus, the 3 assays show clear differences in diagnostic sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene,  University of Regensburg, Regensburg,  Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Preiss
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schemmerer
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jilg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M