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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, August 1999, p. 2576-2580, Vol. 37, No. 8
0095-1137/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Serological Determination of Hepatitis C Virus Subtypes 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, and 4a by a Recombinant Immunoblot Assay

Matthias Schröter,* Heinz-Hubert Feucht, Peter Schäfer, Bernhard Zöllner, and Rainer Laufs

Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie, Universitäts-Krankenhaus Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany

Received 14 October 1998/Returned for modification 15 April 1999/Accepted 4 May 1999

Serological determination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) subtypes has been hampered by the lack of suitable assays. Therefore, a recombinant immunoblot assay has been established for serological differentiation of HCV subtypes 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, and 4a. It consists of recombinant HCV proteins from the NS-4 region propagated in Escherichia coli. To confirm the serotyping assay results, the results were compared with those obtained by nucleotide sequencing of the NS-5 region. Sera from 157 patients with chronic HCV infection were examined by this assay, and specific antibodies could be detected in 86% (n = 135) of them. The HCV genotype was determined correctly in all but one sample, and the subtypes determined by the serotyping assay corresponded to the HCV subtypes detected by nucleotide sequencing for 95% (n = 128) of the samples. These data indicate that HCV subtypes can be distinguished serologically. The assay that is described provides an easier means of identification of infection with different HCV subtypes for wider clinical and epidemiological applications.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie, Universitäts-Krankenhaus Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany. Phone: 49-40.47173159. Fax: 49-40.47174062. E-mail: mschroet{at}uke.uni-hamburg.de.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, August 1999, p. 2576-2580, Vol. 37, No. 8
0095-1137/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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Copyright © 1999 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.