ANTI-HCV ENVELOPE PREVALENCE IN BLOOD-DONORS FROM BADEN-WURTTEMBERG

We assess the diagnostic value of the recombinant antigens E1/E2 (hete rodimer) and E2 for the screening of blood donors. For this purpose an ELISA assay was developed which used these recombinant glycoproteins as solid antigens on the microtiter plates. The anti-E1/E2 assay was a ble to detect 80% of the positive samples by Matrix and 87% of the PCR -positive samples. Anti-E2 was less sensitive. Fifteen percent of the indeterminate samples were anti-E1/E2 and 8% anti-E2 positive. In the case of the indeterminate samples there was no coincidence of results between these assays and the PCR. Fifty percent of seroconverters show ed an anti-E1/E2-positive result with a previous indeterminate donatio n. We conclude that the recombinant envelope proteins, mainly anti-E1/ E2, might be used in future in the diagnostics of HCV infection to inc rease the sensitivity of the currently used assays.