Hepatitis C antibody detection in dried blood spots.
In the UK, there have been few studies of the seroprevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). As part of an ongoing prevalence study of HCV in injecting drug users, we have developed a technique for detecting anti-HCV in blood spots dried on filter paper using a commercially available assay. Subjects with and without serum anti-HCV were studied. The manufacturer's recommended cut-off (CO) for a positive anti-HCV result is kit-dependent, and therefore a ratio of test result (T) to kit CO was used to standardize results. T/CO values greater than 0.99 had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 87.5% for anti-HCV detection. T/CO values greater than 1.99 had a sensitivity of 97.2% and a specificity of 100%. Hence, testing dried blood spots may be useful for detecting anti-HCV in epidemiological studies and as a diagnostic test in patients with poor peripheral venous access.
McCarron
B
B
Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Brownlee Centre, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
Fox
R
R
Wilson
K
K
Cameron
S
S
McMenamin
J
J
McGregor
G
G
Pithie
A
A
Goldberg
D
D
D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic