This is a particularly reassuring finding since β2-microglobulin has previously been shown (using immunoturbometric methods) to be markedly elevated in the serum of hepatitis C patients with HCV-related HCC when compared to HCV positive patients without HCC (36±16.5 μg ml−1vs 2.3±0.8 μg ml−1; P<0.0001) or healthy subjects (1.6±0.4 μg ml−1; P<0.0001) (Malaguarnera et al, 2000). Here, HLA-G is linked to hepatitis A virus infection.