Evaluation of a supplemental assay for the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infections.

Objectives: A supplemental test was evaluated for hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Methods: One hundred forty-six sera that were inconclusive or discrepant in two screening tests for HCV infection were evaluated using a supplemental test, MATRIX-HCV2 (Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, IL, USA). Results of the supplemental test were compared to the detection of HCV RNA by a nested polymerase chain reaction after a step of reverse transcription (RT-PCR).

Genital mycoplasmas in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

To determine whether Mycoplasma fermentans. Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma penetrans were present in the genitourinary tract of HIV infected patients in Nancy, France, we have used culture and polymerase chain reactions on urine from 54 HIV-infected patients. Both techniques failed to reveal these bacteria.

[Incidence of hepatitis C virus in kidney transplantation recipients].

The investigation was carried on 122 waiting renal transplantation hospitalized patients. Detection of HCV antibodies was done before transplantation and after renal transplantation. HCV antibodies were detected by immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for C 100-3 protein of HC virus (Lab.

[Study of genetic markers of hepatitis B virus in 204 persons working in hospitals].

In this study we have shown that 20% of the staff of the University Hospital Center at Nancy have at least one genetic marker for hepatitis B virus. We believe that, given this relatively high incidence of infection, members of a hospital staff at high risk for infection should be screened by serologic tests in order to immunize only susceptible individuals. Conversely, in populations with low incidences of infection, immunization without prior serologic tests is preferable as it is less expensive.