Application of recombination antigen of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5 region in detection of hepatitis C infections

The purpose of this study was to eveluate the effective of recomination antigen of HCV NS5 region in detection of hepatitis C infection and in developing the third generation HCV diagnostic kit in China. All the serum samples were obtained in Hebei Province. Sera of PT - HC patients were collected in pre - transfusion and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 36 and 72 months after transfusion, Sera from patients with C - HC were collected in 8th year and 11th year after folowed - up. EIA method was developed using recombination antigen of HCV NS5 region. HCV RNA was determined with RT- PCR using 5' NTR primer. The anti - NS5 was detected in different populations. The positive rates of anti - NS5 in PT - HC patients, followed - up for 3 and 6 years, were 70. 5 % and 80. 1 %, respectively; C - HC patients followed - up for 8 and 11 years were 50. 8 %and 82. 4 %, respectively. No anti - NS5 in 291 blood donors was detected, and in the normal populations the positive rate was 1. 7%.