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HCV RNA in blood donors with isolated reactivities by third‐generation RIBA
Author(s) -
Lemaire J.M.,
Courouce A.M.,
Defer C.,
Bouchardeau F.,
Coste J.,
Agulles O.,
Cantaloube J.F.,
Barlet V.,
Barin F.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1046/j.1537-2995.2000.40070867.x
Subject(s) - ns3 , indeterminate , medicine , virology , population , reactivity (psychology) , rna , hepatitis c virus , immunology , hepatitis c , virus , biology , pathology , gene , biochemistry , alternative medicine , mathematics , environmental health , pure mathematics
BACKGROUND: The objective of this collaborative study was to learn the proportion of HCV RNA‐positive samples obtained from a population of donors with isolated anti‐HCV reactivities by third‐generation RIBA (RIBA‐3) (indeterminate results). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: During a 2‐year period, 11 blood transfusion centers kept all samples with indeterminate RIBA‐3 results to test them by PCR, using both local and commercial techniques. RESULTS: Of the 758 RIBA‐3 indeterminate samples, 10 (1.3%) were positive for HCV RNA: 3.3 percent (6/180) and 1.3 percent (4/317) of samples with anti‐core or anti‐NS3 reactivity, respectively, and none of the 52 and 209 samples with anti‐NS4 or anti‐NS5 reactivity, respectively. HCV RNA‐positive donors with anti‐core reactivity were infected with different subtypes (1 with HCV subtype 1b, 1 with 2, 1 with 2a/2c, 2 with 3a, and 1 with 5a), and a follow‐up indicated a chronic‐carrier state in two of the six donors. Acute hepatitis was diagnosed in three of the four donors with anti‐NS3 reactivity alone. Two of these three were IV drug users and were infected with subtype 1a. CONCLUSION: HCV RNA‐positive donors with indeterminate results in RIBA‐3 are extremely rare, but they do exist. They were observed only when either anti‐core or anti‐NS3 was present. With such a RIBA‐3 profile, PCR testing remains necessary to reveal an eventual acute or chronic HCV infection.