title: Community-based research: cost of the tests used for anti-HBc total seropositivity only and hepatitis B screening.
abstract: Our study aimed to determine anti-HBc total (IgG+IgM) seroprevalence in the adult population aged ≥ 15 and to compare the cost of testing for HBsAg and anti-HBs in only anti-HBc positive+ subpopulation to that in the whole population for HBV screening. The study involved a face-to-face survey and peripheral blood sampling from 452 adult subjects for HBV tests. HBV-DNA PCR was studied only in anti-HBc+ subjects. Of the 452 subjects anti-HBc total was positive in 192 (42.47%), of which: (a) 27 (14.06%) were HBsAg+, anti-HBs negative⁻, (b) 126 (65.62%) were HBsAg⁻, anti-HBs+, (c) 39 were HBsAg⁻, anti-HBs⁻. This last group (c) were tested for HBV-DNA PCR and six (15.38%) were positive. When we perform HBsAg and anti-HBs tests in all 452 subjects as in routine practice in blood banks, the cost is 3320 Euros. However, when all subjects are tested for anti-HBc total at first and then only anti-HBc total+ ones are tested for HBsAg and anti-HBs, the cost is 2929 Euros. The cost difference between the two methods is 391 Euros for 452 subjects. Accordingly, our HBV screening algorithm brings a financial saving of 11.78% and helps to identify the isolated anti-HBc total+ subjects who carry potential risk for spreading HBV.
authors.affiliation: Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Besevler, 06510 Ankara, Turkey. ozkans@gazi.edu.tr
authors.forename: Secil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.forename: Aysegul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atak
authors.forename: Gulendam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bozdayi
authors.forename: Sertac
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turkcuoglu
authors.forename: Isil
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maral
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001771:Blood Banks / Q000191:economics; D001782:Blood Donors; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000191:economics / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens