Rapid Communication
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 21, 2007; 13(19): 2738-2742
Published online May 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i19.2738
Detection of hepatitis C virus core antigen for early diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection in plasma donor in China
He-Qiu Zhang, Shao-Bo Li, Guo-Hua Wang, Kun Chen, Xiao-Guo Song, Xiao-Yan Feng
He-Qiu Zhang, Guo-Hua Wang, Kun Chen, Xiao-Guo Song, Xiao-Yan Feng, Department of Vaccine Engineering, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
Shao-Bo Li, Hunan Kingda Gene Ltd. Co. Changsha 410000, Hunan Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Key Technologies R&D Program of China during the 10th Five-Year Plan, No. 2001BA705B06; and National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program), No. 2006AA020907
Correspondence to: Professor He-Qiu Zhang, Department of Vaccine Engineering, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, 27 Taiping Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100850, China. zhangheqiu2004@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-10-66932304 Fax: +86-10-68285718
Received: February 13, 2007
Revised: March 3, 2007
Accepted: March 15, 2007
Published online: May 21, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of a new hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen assay developed in China.

METHODS: After the determination of HCV infection, 49 serial samples were selected from 11 regular plasma donors in 5 different plasma stations. To compare the performance of HCV core antigen detection and HCV PCR, these samples were genotyped, and each specimen was analyzed by ELISA for the detection of HCV core antigen and by qualitative HCV PCR.

RESULTS: Among all of the sequential samples, the original 13 specimens were HCV RNA-negative, and 36 samples were HCV RNA-positive. Twenty-seven samples (75%) were HCV core antigen-positive from these HCV RNA-positive specimens. Conversely, 27 samples (93.1%) were found HCV RNA-positive in HCV core antigen-positive samples. Intervals between HCV RNA and HCV core antigen-positive, as well as between HCV core antigen-positive and HCV antibody-positive were 36.0 and 32.8 d, respectively.

CONCLUSION: This HCV core antigen assay, developed in China, is able to detect much of anti-HCV-negative, HCV RNA-positive preseroconversion window period (PWP) plasma donations.

Keywords: Hepatitis C virus; Core antigen; Anti-HCV; HCV RNA