Comparison of Three Different Immunoassays and PCR for the Detection of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Pregnant Women in Taiwan

To compare different hepatitis C virus (HCV) immunoassays and HCV?RNA in pregnant women, we investigated two independent groups: 1,687 cases without screening for serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (group A) and 333 cases with elevated ALT (>45 IU/1) (group B), after screening 21,459 pregnant women. In group A, 11 (0.65%) and 21 (1.24%) were anti?HCV?positive by first? and second?generation tests, respectively, while in group B 8 (2.40%) and 19 (5.71%) were positive, respectively. The results revealed by second?generation assays based on either recombinant protein or synthetic peptides were identical, as were the anti?HCV titers in group B. Among 40 second?generation anti?HCV?positive cases, 18 (86%) of 21 in group A and 17 (89%) of the 19 in group B contained serum HCV?RNA by RT?PCR. Thus the prevalence of anti?HCV in Taiwanese pregnant women is 1.24% versus 5.71% in those with elevated ALT level. ? 1993 S. Karger AG, Basel