A CLBING DO-328 DSNDS AND TURNS TO AVOID OPPOSITE DIRECTION IFR MD80 AT FL210; THE ALT ASSIGNED TO THE 328 NEAR ROA; VA.

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CLRED BY ZDC TO FL210. SWITCHED TO NEXT WASHINGTON FREQ; CHKED IN STATING WE WERE CLBING THROUGH FL190 FOR FL210. WE WERE ADVISED OF TFC IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION 1000 FT ABOVE; NOT ACTUAL ALT. I NOTED THE TFC ON TCASII. IT APPEARED HE; TOO; WAS AT FL210. I ASKED ATC FOR THE MD80'S ALT. THEN WE RECEIVED AN RA. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT THE SECOND CTLR NEVER DID SAY WHAT THE ACTUAL ALT WAS OF THE MD80 DURING THE INITIAL CONTACT. FROM THE PHRASEOLOGY USED; THE CAPT OF THE DO-328 ASSUMED IT WAS AT FL220. THE TFC WAS NOT VISIBLE ON HIS TCASII UNTIL HE WAS OUT OF FL200 AND HE THEN TOLD THE FO TO START BACK DOWN; JUST PRIOR TO THEIR RECEIVING AN RA FOR A DSCNT. THEY WERE AT FL204 AT THAT POINT. THEY HAD A VISUAL ON THE MD80 AND TURNED R; WITH THE OTHER FLT ALSO TURNING R. WHILE AT FL200 ATC ASKED THE RPTR FOR HIS ALT READOUT; WHICH WAS FL210. THE CAPT STATED THAT ATC ACTED LIKE THEY HAD 'GOOFED' AND APPEARED TO GLOSS OVER THE INCIDENT; NO EXPLANATIONS OR RECRIMINATIONS PUT TO THIS CREW.