Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz ()

Poor sensitivity of rapid tests for the detection of antibodies to the hepatitis B virus: implications for field studies

  • Helena Medina Cruz,
  • Leticia de Paula Scalioni,
  • Vanessa Salete de Paula,
  • Juliana Custódio Miguel,
  • Kycia Maria Rodrigues do Ó,
  • Flavio Augusto Pádua Milagres,
  • Marcelo Santos Cruz,
  • Francisco Inácio Bastos,
  • Priscila Pollo Flores,
  • Erotildes Leal,
  • Ana Rita Coimbra Motta-Castro,
  • Lia Laura Lewis-Ximenez,
  • Elisabeth Lampe,
  • Livia Melo Villar

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0074-02760160394
Journal volume & issue
no. 0

Abstract

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Rapid tests (RTs) can be used as an alternative method for the conventional diagnosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV). This study aims to evaluate antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) and antibodies to HBeAg (anti-HBe) RTs under different Brazilian settings. The following three groups were included: GI: viral hepatitis outpatient services; GII: low resource areas; and GIII: crack users and beauticians. Imuno-rápido anti-HBsAg™ and Imuno-rápido anti-HBeAg™ RTs were evaluated and showed specificities greater than 95% in all groups. The sensitivity values to anti-HBs were 50.38%, 51.05% and 46.73% and the sensitivity values to anti-HBe were 76.99%, 10.34% and 11.76% in the GI, GII and GIII groups, respectively. The assays had a low sensitivity and high specificity, which indicated their use for screening in regions endemic for HBV.

Keywords