Test performance characteristics of Anti-HEV IgG assays strongly influence hepatitis E seroprevalence estimates

J Infect Dis. 2013 Feb 1;207(3):497-500. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jis688. Epub 2012 Nov 12.

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) seroprevalences of 0.3%-53% were reported from industrialized countries. Because these estimates may be influenced by detection assays, this study compares 3 frequently used tests for HEV detection: the MP Diagnostics HEV immunoglobulin G (IgG) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the Axiom Diagnostics HEV IgG enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and the Mikrogen recomLine HEV IgG assay. Sera from 200 healthy healthcare workers and 30 individuals with acute HEV infection were analyzed. Among the healthy individuals, HEV IgG was found in 4.5% by the MP Diagnostics assay, in 29.5% by the Axiom Diagnostics assay, and in 18% by the Mikrogen assay. Among individuals with acute HEV infection, positive results were obtained for 83.3%, 100%, and 96.7%, respectively. Thus, the 3 assays show clear differences in diagnostic sensitivity.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Child
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay*
  • Female
  • Hepatitis Antibodies / blood*
  • Hepatitis E / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis E / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis E / immunology
  • Hepatitis E virus / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Hepatitis Antibodies
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M