A Comparative Study for the Detection Results of HBsAg and HCV Antibodies by ICT and ELISA

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis is a serious, life-threatening global health problem. Liver cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases ranks as the 14th most common cause of death globally. According to the World Health Organization, the annual number of deaths due to viral hepatitis infections has increased significantly from 1.1 million deaths in 2019 to more than 1.3 million deaths in 2022; 83% of it were due to hepatitis B and 17% due to hepatitis C

Materials and Methods: The study included 720 samples, 360 for HBV and 360 for HCV from patients attending Tishreen University Hospital in Lattakia. Venous blood samples were collected in dry tubes to perform the screening test for the HBsAg and Anti HCV using two laboratory techniques, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Immunochromatography (ICT), ELISA was used as gold standard for comparative evaluation and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and odds ratios were calculated for the immunochromatography test.

Results: In our study HBV specificity was 98.3%, PPV was 90.5%, the sensitivity was 96% and the NPV was 99.3%. For HCV specificity was 98%, PPV was 92%, sensitivity was 92% and NPV was 97.7%. Our results are significant (P value < 0.05).

Conclusion: The ICT strip test should be used with caution. It can be used in emergency cases and adopted as a primary screening tool in the initial diagnosis of hepatitis.