[Efficacy of absorbance ratio of ELISA antibodies [corrected] for hepatitis C virus of 3th generation in the prediction of viremia evaluated by PCR].
BACKGROUND
In order to decrease the burden of suffering and the costs derived from confirmatory molecular assays, a better strategy is badly needed to decrease the rate of false positive results of the enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) for detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies (Anti).


OBJECTIVE
To establish the best cutoff of the S/CO rate in subjects with a positive result of a microparticule, third generation ELISA assay for Anti-HCV, for predicting viremia as detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay.


METHODS
Using the result of the PCR assay as "gold standard", a ROC curve was build with the results of the S/CO rate values in subjects with a positive result for ELISA HCV assay.


RESULTS
Fifty two subjects (30 male, 22 female, 40 +/- 12.5 years old) were included. Thirty four (65.3%) had a positive RNA HCV PCR assay. The area under the curve was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.98-1.0). The optimal cutoff for the S/CO rate was established in 29: sensitivity: 97%; specificity: 100%: PPV: 100%; NPV: 94%.


CONCLUSIONS
Setting the cutoff of the S/CO in 29 results in a high predictive value for viremia as detected by PCR in subjects with a positive ELISA HVC assay. This knowledge may result in a better decision taking for the clinical follow up of those subjects with a positive result in the ELISA screening assay for HCV infection.
Servicio de Gastroenterología, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad (UMAE), "Lic. Ignacio García Téllez", Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Mérida, Yucatán, México. doc_iva@hotmail.com
Isidro
I
Vázquez-Avila
Jorge Manuel
JM
Vera-Peralta
José
J
Alvarez-Nemegyei
Otilia
O
Rodríguez-Carvajal
D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014766:Viremia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies