[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.
Vázquez-Avila
Isidro
I
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
Vera-Peralta
Jorge Manuel
JM
Alvarez-Nemegyei
José
J
Rodríguez-Carvajal
Otilia
O
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