Detection of antibodies against hepatitis A in blood spots dried on filter paper. Is this a reliable method for epidemiological studies?
Diluted dried blood drops on filter paper were compared with serum samples as a specimen source for qualitative anti-HAV antibody determination by ELISA. A total of 298 serum samples and dried blood drops were collected from a population of healthy adolescents (15.3 +/- 1.2 years old). The prevalence of anti-HAV antibody obtained by testing serum samples was 7.7% (95% CI:4.8 10.1). Compared with serum sampling the sensitivity and specificity of diluted dried blood drops were 91.3 and 99.3%. The positive and negative predictive values were 91.3 and 99.3%, respectively, and the likelihood ratios of positive and negative results were 91 and 0.09. It is proposed that this test represents a reliable procedure for anti-HAV antibody testing.
Gil
A
A
Preventive Medicine and Public Health Department, School of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
González
A
A
Dal-Ré
R
R
Dominguez
V
V
Astasio
P
P
Aguilar
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies