Evaluation of the performance of 44 assays used in countries with limited resources for the detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus.

Background: This study was conducted by the International Consortium for Blood Safety (ICBS) and its Collaborating Center, the Paul Ehrlich Institute, to identify high-quality, affordable assays for the detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and make available information on their performance for the benefit of developing countries.

Study Design And Methods: Forty-four assays were evaluated for their sensitivity and specificity. The assays' sensitivity was evaluated on a characterized panel of 200 anti-HCV-positive samples comprising major HCV genotypes 1 through 6.