Evaluation of third-generation assays for detection of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and comparison with presence of HCV RNA in blood donors reactive to c100-3 antigen

We tested serum samples from blood donors by using first-, second-, and third-generation enzyme immunoassays or recombinant immunoblot assays. Second- and third-generation assays gave comparable results. Circulating hepatitis C virus RNA was found in a high proportion of reactive samples. A lack of reactivity or low-level reactivity predicted the absence of hepatitis C virus RNA in 100% of the cases.