Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026
Use of a Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device/Left Atrium to Femoral Artery Bypass System for Cardiogenic Shock
Published on: August 16, 2021
HCV false positive immunoassays in patients with LVAD: A potential trap!
Amélie Heinrichs1, Martine Antoine2, Deborah Steensels1
1Microbiology Department, ULB-Hôpital Erasme, Route de Lennik 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
Insights
Immunoassays for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies can yield false positives in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). Further testing, including HCV RNA detection, is crucial to confirm actual HCV infections in this population.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are vital for advanced heart failure patients awaiting transplantation.
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening is critical as infection can be a transplant exclusion criterion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the frequency of false-positive HCV antibody results using immunoassays in LVAD patients.
- To evaluate the reliability of standard HCV screening methods in the context of LVAD support.
Main Methods:
- HCV antibody testing (CLIA and ELFA) was conducted on 32 patients pre- and post-LVAD implantation.
- Reactive immunoassay results were confirmed with HCV immunoblot and HCV RNA PCR detection.
Main Results:
- Post-LVAD implantation, 59% of patients showed reactive HCV antibody tests via CLIA and ELFA.
- HCV immunoblot results were negative or indeterminate for all tested patients.
- HCV RNA was undetectable in all patients tested, indicating no true HCV infections.
Conclusions:
- Routine HCV immunoassays (CLIA, ELFA) are unreliable for diagnosing HCV in LVAD patients.
- Positive HCV immunoassay results in LVAD patients require confirmation with HCV immunoblot and RNA PCR to rule out infection.
Background:
Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are a therapeutic choice for patients with advanced heart failure prior cardiac transplantation. Patients with a LVAD implant are frequently monitored for hepatitis C virus (HCV) as a positive result may be an exclusion criterion for transplantation.
Objectives:
To determine the rate of false positive results with immunoassays for HCV antibodies in a LVAD population.
Study Design:
Between June 2011 and January 2015, HCV antibody testing using a chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) (Liaison, Diasorin) was performed for 32 patients prior and post LVAD implantation. A HCV reactive result by CLIA was repeated and further tested by an enzyme linked fluorescent assay (ELFA) (VIDAS, bioMérieux). For patients with a positive HCV CLIA and ELFA test, immunoblot and HCV RNA detection were performed.
Results:
Prior to LVAD implantation, all patients showed a negative HCV serology. After LVAD implantation, 19 patients (59%) had positive results for HCV antibody using CLIA and ELFA technologies. The HCV immunoblot was negative for 17 patients and indeterminate for two patients. For 15 patients, HCV RNA detection was performed and was undetectable. Actually, no HCV infections were observed among those who were tested for HCV RNA.
Conclusions:
HCV serological tests routinely used in our laboratories are not reliable in patients with cardiac devices. A positive CLIA and/or ELFA reaction in patients with a LVAD should be confirmed by HCV immunoblot and by HCV RNA PCR detection in order to rule out a HCV infection.
More Related Videos
05:18Implantation of Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) in Juvenile Landrace Swine: A LVAD Implantation Model of Pediatric Heart Failure
Published on: January 16, 2026
07:41Insertion, Maintenance, and Removal of the Percutaneous Dual Lumen Cannula Right Ventricular Assist Device
Published on: July 20, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:29Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
01:24Cardiac Catheterization III: Left Heart Catheterization