Evaluation of the dried blood spot (DBS) collection method as a tool for detection of HIV Ag/Ab, HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HCV in a Malaysian tertiary referral hospital.
- Author:
Chee Eng LEE
1
;
Sasheela Sri PONNAMPALAVANAR
;
Sharifah Faridah Syed OMAR
;
Sanjiv MAHADEVA
;
Lai Yee ONG
;
Adeeba KAMARULZAMAN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Cross-Sectional Studies; Dried Blood Spot Testing; HIV Antibodies; blood; immunology; HIV Antigens; blood; immunology; HIV Infections; diagnosis; Hepacivirus; isolation & purification; Hepatitis B; diagnosis; Hepatitis B Antibodies; blood; immunology; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; blood; immunology; Hepatitis C; diagnosis; Hepatitis C Antibodies; blood; immunology; Hepatitis C Antigens; blood; immunology; Humans; Malaysia; Plasma; virology; Prospective Studies; Referral and Consultation; Sensitivity and Specificity; Specimen Handling
- From:Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 2011;40(10):448-453
- CountrySingapore
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
INTRODUCTIONDried blood spot (DBS) collection is an appealing alternative to whole blood or plasma sampling, as it has technical and economic advantages over the latter.
MATERIALS AND METHODSA prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at a Malaysian tertiary referral hospital from November 2009 to March 2010. One hundred and fifty paired specimens of DBS and plasma were analysed by the standard assays for HIV Ag/Ab, HBsAg, anti-HBS and anti-HCV, separately (total 600 paired specimens). DBS sample titres were then compared to the results of plasma testing, which was used as the gold standard.
RESULTSFor the HIV Ag/Ab assay with a cut-off point of 0.35 Relative Light Units (RLUs), the sensitivity and specificity were both 100%. For the HBsAg assay, the sensitivity was 96.5% and the specificity was 97.8%, with a cut-off point of 1.72 RLUs. Sensitivity for the anti-HBs test was 74.2% and the specificity was 86.9%, using a cut-off point of 0.635 RLUs. For the anti-HCV assay, the sensitivity was 97.3% and the specificity was 100%, with a cut-off point of 0.10 RLUs.
CONCLUSIONDBS is an ideal choice to be used as a screening tool for the detection of HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C virus infections. However, different cut-off values need to be used for the validation of test positivity in DBS samples because the small amount of blood in the DBS specimens leads to lower assay titres.
