Übersichten

Abstract

A viräl agent that is neither hepatitis Ävirus nor hepatitis B virus has been recognized äs the cause of most cases of transfusion-associated hepatitis, and for years the disease has been referred to äs non A, non B hepatitis (NANBH). This agent acccounts for one-third of all cases of acute hepatitis in industrialized nations, and the majority ofinfections progress to a chronic state (1). Detection ofthe specific virus and its antibodies eluded scientific efforts until 1987, when a small piece of nucleic acid from the virus was isolated by molecular cloning (2). This clone proved to contain the genetic code for a viral protein, and the protein could be used in an immunoassay to detect antibodies in the'sera of infected patients (3). The agent which contained this nucleic acid was named hepatitis C (HCV), and subsequent studies have proven that HCV causes most cases of NANBH in Europe, America, and Japan (1). Commercial tests for anti HCV have now been developed and are being used diagnostically or for screening donor blood. In order to better Interpret the clinical significance of a positive fest result or the efficiency of the screening test, it is useful to review its performance characteristics. This review examines data particlarly äs they apply to detectability and specificity. Second generation antibody tests have recently been developed, and the performance of the Abbott Laboratories second generation is presented and compared to the first generation methods.