Türk Biyokimya Dergisi (Jul 2007)
The Utility of ANTI-HCV S/CO Ratio, HCV-RNA and ALT Test in Predicting Viremia in ANTI-HCV Positive Patients
Abstract
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is frequently diagnosed by detection of antibodyagainst the HCV (Anti-HCV). The seropositivity of anti-HCV could reflect chronicinfectious status and/or previous infection. Detection of HCV-RNA by PCR is stilllaborious, too expensive, requires specific expertise and facilities, and usually used toconfirm positive serology. This study was performed in anti-HCV positive patients todetermine the relationship between anti-HCV Sample rate / Cutoff rate (S/CO) ratios,HCV-RNA and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. In addition, the utility of anti-HCV S/CO ratio values in predicting HCV viremia in anti-HCV positive patients wereevaluated. Serum samples of 124 patients were tested for anti-HCV by a MEIA technique,for HCV-RNA by a quantitative PCR and for ALT by IFCC UV test. S/CO values foranti-HCV test and ALT levels were correlated with the quantitative values of HCV-RNA(respectively, r=0.824, p 25.9. All HCV-RNA negative cases had normal serum ALTlevels (24.67 ± 8.56 U/L) and relatively low S/CO values (3.81 ± 4.32) for anti-HCV tests.HCV-RNA positive other cases had greater S/CO values (119.53 ± 37.99) and elevatedserum ALT levels (99.53 ± 49.96 U/L). The sensitivity and specificity of anti-HCV in thediagnosis of HCV viremia was 100 % and specificity was 100 % respectively when S/CO ratio was set 25.9 as a cutoff. Among patients with high S/CO ratios, the likelihoodof HCV-RNA positivity was directly related to S/CO ratio. S/CO values may be used topredict HCV viremia in Anti-HCV positive individuals and therefore, quantitative HCVRNAtesting could not be routinely required for all patients.
