J Korean Med Sci.  1999 Dec;14(6):629-634. 10.3346/jkms.1999.14.6.629.

Factors associated with positive predictability of the anti-HCV ELISA method with confirmatory RT-PCR

• Kim YS
• Lee HS
• Ahn YO

• KMID: 646038
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.1999.14.6.629

Abstract

The positive predictability of anti-HCV ELISA is low, especially, in blood donors and in healthy populations. False positive anti-HCV results pose some difficulties in medical practice and in blood screening. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with true hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among anti-HCV ELISA-positives. A case-control analysis was conducted using 354 subjects who were positive for anti-HCV ELISA. All subjects were tested for true HCV infection using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Tests for serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), fasting glucose, HBsAg, anti-HBc antibody, alpha-fetoprotein, platelet count and ultrasound of liver were also performed. Epidemiological data were obtained by self-administered questionnaires. Out of 354 subjects, 202 (57.1%) were positive for HCV by RT-PCR and 152 were negative and used as the control group. In multivariate analysis, blood transfusion (odds ratio, OR 2.3, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.3-4.0), elevated ALT (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.3) and higher anti-HCV ELISA ratios (more than 3; OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3-2.1) were associated with true HCV infection. Thrombocytopenia was also associated with the presence of HCV in univariate analysis. These results suggest that a history of blood transfusion, elevated ALT and a high score on anti-HCV ELISA ratios are associated with true HCV infection among anti-HCV ELISA-positives.

Keyword

Hepatitis c-like virus; Hepatitis C antibodies; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; Risk factors

MeSH Terms

Adult
Blood Donors
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay*
False Positive Reactions
Female
Hepatitis C/epidemiology
Hepatitis C/diagnosis*
Hepatitis C/blood
Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood*
Hepatitis C-Like Viruses
Human
Male
Middle Age
Multivariate Analysis
Predictive Value of Tests
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Risk Factors