Comparison of DNA Enzyme Immunoassay and Line Probe Assays (Inno-LiPA HCV I and II) for Hepatitis C Virus Genotyping

Two methods for genotyping hepatitis C virus (DNA enzyme immunoassay [DEIA] and line probe assay [Inno-LiPA HCV I and II]) were compared on 120 samples and of these 87% were assigned to the same subtype by both assays. There were 15 subtyping discrepancies which involved 5% of type 1 isolates and 90% of type 2 isolates. Amplified products from the core and 5' untranslated regions (UTR) were sequenced to resolve conflicts. Type 1 discordant samples had a guanosine at position -99 in the 5' UTR, a characteristic of genotype 1b, and a core region typical of subtype 1a. The eight isolates classified as 2a/2c by LiPA and as subtype 2c by DEIA belonged to type 2.