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Updated: Dec 30, 2025
In Vitro Biochemical Assays using Biotin Labels to Study Protein-Nucleic Acid Interactions
Published on: July 17, 2019
Biotin interferences: Have we neglected the impact on serological markers?
Jean-Louis Bayart1, Julien Favresse1, Anke Stoefs1
1Département des Laboratoires Cliniques, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc - Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Background:
Biotin has been reported to be a leading cause of interference on several immunoassay platforms using the streptavidin-biotin immobilization system. While biotin interferences have now been well characterized for several assays, only few data are available on their impact on serological markers of infectious viral diseases.
Methods:
Overall, 10 healthy volunteers (HVs) received a single 100 mg dose of biotin to evaluate its effect on hepatitis B serological markers. Blood samples were taken several times before and after biotin intake. In addition, spiking experiments were applied to investigate biotin's impact on anti-HIV/p24 Ag and anti-HCV antibody levels. Several procedures designed to overcome this interference were evaluated.
Results:
Biotin intake resulted in a false-negative anti-HBs immunological status (<10 mIU/mL) in 40.0% of cases. According to our anti-HBc and anti-HBe results, biotin intake was associated with 90.0% and 80.0% of false positive results, respectively. At the theoretical biotin peak concentration following a 100 mg intake, 50.0% and 66.6% of anti-HIV and anti-HCV results were false negatives, respectively. All the procedures evaluated to overcome the interference were proven effective.
Conclusion:
HBV, HCV, and HIV serological markers are likely to be highly sensitive to biotin. Our data confirm that the scope of biotin interference is broader than commonly described.
