26 The presence of antibodies to hepatitis C was tested using a second generation enzyme immunoassay (Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, IL) and confirmed by the MATRIX assay (Abbott Laboratories).
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected by second generation enzyme linked immunoassay kit (ELISA), Diasorin Italy and third generation ELISA kit, DRG, Germany was used for HCV-Ab detection.
Reactive antibody results on rapid testing were confirmed by the Murex third generation enzyme immunoassay the Genscreen antigen-antibody HIV test (Bio-Rad, France)—and by western blot.
Serum samples were tested using third and fourth generation enzyme immune assays (EIAs) following the manufacturer's instructions, for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-Core antibody (anti-HBc), antibodies for hepatitis C and antibodies for HIV.
Third generation enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) visual test kits for anti-HCV and HBsAg (by International Immuno Diagnostics CA, USA) were used to detect the presence of anti-HCV and HBsAg in the sera of the study subjects.
Men randomised to the control arm were offered the clinic's standard HIV test: venepuncture with serum forwarded to the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory for testing by third generation enzyme immunoassay (Murex, Dartford, UK).
Sero-positivity to HBV was defined by detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and sero-positivity to HCV by detection of anti-HCV antibodies by a third generation enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA).
The HBsAg and the IgG antibodies to HCV markers were serologically assessed using a third generation enzyme immunoassay (Murex HBsAg Version 3, Abbott-Murex, South Africa) and (Murex, anti-HCV version 4.0 Abbott Kyalami, South Africa) respectively.
"We are unaware of any studies" to date "that have quantified the cumulative effect of concurrent risk factors on the" acquisition of…'STUDYDY POPULATION', second paragraph, should have read: "A modified, third generation enzyme immunoassay (Abbott hepatitis C 3.0, Chicago, IL, USA) was used to test for HCV antibody.
This group was defined as being both HCV antibody (third generation enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, Abbott IMx, Abbott Diagnostics, Maidenhead, Berkshire, United Kingdom) and HCV RNA (Amplicor, Roche Diagnostics, Pleasanton, CA) negative on at least 2 occasions, 3 6 months apart with subsequent testing on an approximate 6 monthly basis to ensure that this profile remained unchanged.
HIV was detected using a fourth generation enzyme immunoassay (ELISA), used as per the manufacturer's instructions, for determination of antibodies to HIV types 1 and 2 and the p24 antigen of HIV-1 in human serum and plasma (DIA.PRO Diagnostic Bioprobes SRL, Milán, Italy).
