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- Title
Hepatitis C virus antigen detection is an appropriate test for screening and early diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection in at‐risk populations and immunocompromised hosts.
- Authors
Kumar, Rajneesh; Chan, Kwai Peng; Ekstrom, Victoria Sze Min; Wong, Judith Chui Ching; Lim, Kun Lee; Ng, Wee Ching; Woo, Shi Min; Chan, Kian Sing; Thangaraju, Sobhana; Kee, Terence Yi Shern; Gan, Sheryl Shien Wen; Foo, Marjorie Wai Yin; Oon, Lynette Lin Ean; Chow, Wan Cheng
- Abstract
Early diagnosis remains key for effective prevention and treatment. Unfortunately, current screening with anti‐hepatitis C virus antibody (anti‐HCV Ab) test may have limited utility in the diagnosis of HCV infection and reinfection. This is of special concern to at‐risk population, such as immunocompromised hosts and end‐stage renal failure patients on hemodialysis. HCV antigen (Ag) could be useful in identifying the ongoing infection in such clinical scenarios. Hence, we aimed to study the utility of HCV Ag testing for the diagnosis of acute and chronic hepatitis C. Of 89 samples studied, 19 were from acute hepatitis C patients who were immunocompromised or were on hemodialysis, 43 were from active chronic hepatitis C patients and 27 were from patients treated for chronic hepatitis C. All samples were tested for HCV Ag using the Abbott ARCHITECT HCV Ag assay. HCV Ag was reactive in 19/19 samples from acute hepatitis C patients and 42/43 samples from active chronic hepatitis C patients. It was nonreactive in all samples from treated patients. The test showed a sensitivity and specificity of 98.4% and 100.0%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 100.0% and 96.4%, respectively. The HCV antigen test has high clinical sensitivity and specificity and is useful for the diagnosis of acute and chronic hepatitis C infection in at‐risk and immunocompromised patients. Its short turnaround time and relatively low cost are advantageous for use in patients on hemodialysis and other at‐risk patients who require monitoring of HCV infection and reinfection. Highlights: ‐ Anti HCV antibody is used as screening test/ ‐ Anti HCV antibody test is falsely negative in immunocompromised hosts. ‐ HCV antigen testing can be used as screening test in this group.
- Subjects
HEPATITIS C virus; IMMUNOCOMPROMISED patients; CHRONIC active hepatitis; VIRUS diseases; HEPATITIS B; CHRONIC hepatitis C; HEPATITIS C
- Publication
Journal of Medical Virology, 2021, Vol 93, Issue 6, p3738
- ISSN
0146-6615
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/jmv.26433