title: Evaluation of seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection among patients attending a hospital of semi-urban North India using rapid immunoassay test.
abstract: Viral hepatitis is a serious public health problem with hepatitis B virus (HBV) being one of its principle causes affecting billions of people globally. The laboratory diagnosis of HBV infection is made by detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum.
  
  
  
  The present study was done to evaluate the seroprevalence of hepatitis B infection among patients attending a hospital at a semi-urban North India using rapid immunoassay test kit.
  
  
  
  A total of 1537 patients were included in the study whose venous blood samples were collected, and serum was tested for the presence of HBsAg using a rapid one-step immunoassay test kit.
  
  
  
  Out of 1537 patients whose blood samples were tested, 61 were found to be reactive to HBsAg giving the prevalence to be 3.9%, with 49 males and 12 females. Out of 61 reactive patient's majority belonged to inpatient (82.0%) as compared to outpatient department (18.0%). The majority of the reactive patients belonged to age group 28-37 years (37.7%), belonged to rural areas (86.9%), were illiterate (67.2%), were skilled workers (63.9%) and belonged to socioeconomic Class 4 (50.8%). Among the reactive patients, the most frequent suspected risk factor for hepatitis B infection was found to be visiting a community barber (19.7%).
  
  
  
  HBV infection is a dreadful disease, and its accurate and timely diagnosis using rapid immunoassay test kit is useful as it gives an indication about its seroprevalence in a given geographical area even with limited resources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Mau, Ataria, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Razia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khatoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Integral Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Integral University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Noor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jahan
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens