Usefulness of RT-PCR test over the immunological test for hepatitis E virus detection in donated blood; cost analysis in an endemic developing country

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important hepatitis virus that can cause hepatitis. In a comparative study we found, to implement the RT–PCR test for screening purpose for hepatitis E virus contamination in donated blood in our setting has to greatly concern on the cost. Although the pool sample analysis might be applied to reduce the cost, the cost per diagnosis after pool sampling is still high notably