COMPARISON OF ANTIBODY DETECTION BY RAPID DIAGNOSTIC KIT AND ELISA TEST FOR DIAGNOSIS OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of healthcare problem along with burden of health management care cost of international concern. Hepatitis C is a serious threat with long term complication. The present study is undertaken to compare rapid card test based on Immunochromatography principle with ELISA test for detection of anti HCV antibodies. In the absence of vaccine, primary prevention of Hepatitis C should be targeted to reduce transmission of virus. High risk people should be provided with education, counselling and screening. A cross-sectional study was done at Dept. of Microbiology, M.G.M.M.C, Indore Method: for one year comprising of 500 samples after getting Institutional Scientic Research and Ethics Committee approval. Rapid card and ELISA tests were performed in the samples received for detection of Anti-HCV ab. Out of 500 blood samples test Result: ed on Rapid card 22 were positive while 478 were negative. Further testing on same 500 samples with ELISA test 22 were positive and 478 were negative. Discussion: Present study ndings suggest that for screening of anti HCV antibody ELISA and Rapid card tests both can be used as diagnostic tool depending upon facilities available in the laboratory. Rapid card Conclusion: tests were found to be equally diagnostic as compared to ELISA test and hence can be recommended in screening of HCV