Very low hepatitis C antibody levels predict false-positive results and avoid supplemental testing

• Published in: Transfusion (Philadelphia, Pa.) Pa.), 2008-12, Vol.48 (12), p.2540-2548
• Main Authors: Contreras, Ana M., Tornero-Romo, Claudia M., Toribio, José G., Celis, Alfredo, Orozco-Hernández, Axel, Rivera, P. Kristian, Méndez, Claudia, Hernández-Lugo, M. Isabel, Olivares, Laura, Alvarado, Martha A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Blood. Blood and plasma substitutes. Blood products. Blood cells. Blood typing. Plasmapheresis. Apheresis; Blood. Blood coagulation. Reticuloendothelial system; False Positive Reactions; Female; Hepatitis C Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis C Antibodies - immunology; Hepatitis C virus; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Transfusions. Complications. Transfusion reactions. Cell and gene therapy
• ISSN: 0041-1132; 1537-2995
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2008.01886.x

BACKGROUND: False‐positive results for hepatitis C virus antibody (anti‐HCV) occur with unacceptable frequency in low‐prevalence populations. The purpose of the study was to determine whether signal‐to‐cutoff (S/CO) ratios of anti‐HCV assay–reactive samples could be used to discriminate false‐positive from true‐positive anti‐HCV results and avoid the need for supplemental testing. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Using receiver‐operating characteristic curve, the cutoff point that identifies the major proportion (≥95%) of false‐positive results, with a minor proportion (