HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-ANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LIVER-DISEASE -ELISA AND RIBA HCV STRIP IMMUNOBLOT ASSAY RESULTS

In a study using the current first generation Ortho ELISA, a second ge neration Ortho ELISA, and the RIBA HCV strip immunoblot assay, all pat ients who were strongly positive for anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) on E LISAs (OD490>3) were reactive to RIBA for multiple bands. While all EL ISA false positive samples had low or intermediate OD490 values, RIBA confirmed HCV reactivity in 50% of the patients reactive to ELISA with a low suspicion of HCV infection, thus suggesting that RIBA HCV strip immunoblot assay will be most useful for patients who react weakly po sitive or intermediate to ELISA.