Factors associated with positive predictability of the anti-HCV ELISA method with confirmatory RT-PCR.
10.3346/jkms.1999.14.6.629
- Author:
Young Sik KIM
1
;
Hyo Suk LEE
;
Yoon Ok AHN
Author Information
1. Department of Family Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. youngkim@www.amc.seoul.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Hepatitis c-like virus;
Hepatitis C antibodies;
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay;
Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction;
Risk factors
- MeSH:
Adult;
Blood Donors;
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay*;
False Positive Reactions;
Female;
Hepatitis C/epidemiology;
Hepatitis C/diagnosis*;
Hepatitis C/blood;
Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood*;
Hepatitis C-Like Viruses;
Human;
Male;
Middle Age;
Multivariate Analysis;
Predictive Value of Tests;
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Risk Factors
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
1999;14(6):629-634
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The positive predictability of anti-HCV ELISA is low, especially, in blood donors and in healthy populations. False positive anti-HCV results pose some difficulties in medical practice and in blood screening. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with true hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among anti-HCV ELISA-positives. A case-control analysis was conducted using 354 subjects who were positive for anti-HCV ELISA. All subjects were tested for true HCV infection using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Tests for serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), fasting glucose, HBsAg, anti-HBc antibody, alpha-fetoprotein, platelet count and ultrasound of liver were also performed. Epidemiological data were obtained by self-administered questionnaires. Out of 354 subjects, 202 (57.1%) were positive for HCV by RT-PCR and 152 were negative and used as the control group. In multivariate analysis, blood transfusion (odds ratio, OR 2.3, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.3-4.0), elevated ALT (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.3) and higher anti-HCV ELISA ratios (more than 3; OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3-2.1) were associated with true HCV infection. Thrombocytopenia was also associated with the presence of HCV in univariate analysis. These results suggest that a history of blood transfusion, elevated ALT and a high score on anti-HCV ELISA ratios are associated with true HCV infection among anti-HCV ELISA-positives.
