Determination of HCV genotype using two antibody assays and genome typing

Two serotyping assays for hepatitis C virus (Serotyping 1-6 assay; Murex, UK and RIBA Serotyping SI; Chiron, USA) were compared to a standardized genotyping assay (Inno-LiPA HCV II; Innogenetics, Belgium) using serum samples collected from 126 patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus. Serotyping was positive in 87% and 80% of the samples tested with Murex and Chiron, respectively, and concordant with genotyping in 93% and 88%, respectively. Sequence analysis of the NS5b region of 15 samples with discrepant typing results confirmed the Inno-LiPA finding in all instances. The Murex enzyme immunoassay serotyping method was less sensitive for identifying genotype 2 (P<0.05). The concordance with genotyping of the RIBA serotyping method was lower for genotype 2 than for the other genotypes (P<0.05).