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Evidence for viral persistence in patients who test positive for anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies and have normal alanine aminotransferase levels.

It is unclear whether patients who test positive for anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and have normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels remain infected with the virus. Eleven patients who tested positive for anti-HCV antibodies, had persistently normal ALT levels, and tested negative for HCV RNA by commercial test were studied. Serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected 2-3 times at 3-6-month intervals, and PBMCs were cultured with phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen. HCV RNA was detected in serum samples from 6 (55%) and in PBMCs from 11 (100%) patients. Our results suggest that, in asymptomatic patients who test positive for anti-HCV antibodies, small quantities of HCV RNA commonly persist, even in patients who test negative for HCV RNA in serum by commercial tests.