INDETERMINATE 3RD-GENERATION RECOMBINANT IMMUNOBLOT ASSAY IN HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTION

Third-generation recombinant immunoblot assay is widely used for the v alidation of the serological diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection. To determine whether indeterminate recombinant immunoblot assay 3.0 p atterns may be associated with viral replication and liver disease, 89 indeterminate patterns were studied (67 c22n 14 c33c, 5 c100p and 3 N S5); 35 (39%) had immunosuppression. Serum alanine aminotransferase ac tivity was increased in 49 (55%); HCV RNA was evidenced through polyme rase chain reaction in 52 (58%). The observation of indeterminate reco mbinant immunoblot assay 3.0 justifies investigation of liver disease and search for HCV RNA, since a large proportion of individuals with s uch patterns are hepatitis C virus-infected. (C) Journal of Hepatology .