Prevalence of hepatitis C viral infection in a community in Taiwan. Detection by synthetic peptide-based assay and polymerase chain reaction
Journal
Journal of Hepatology
Journal Volume
17
Journal Issue
2
Pages
192-198
Date Issued
1993
Author(s)
Wang T.-H.
Wang C.-Y.
Shih L.-N.
Abstract
The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in a hepatitis B virus hyperendemic region was evaluated with a second-generation enzyme immunoassay. A general population of 1500 from Northern Taiwan was tested with this immunoassay which includes synthetic peptides from the capsid and non-structural protein region as the solid-phase antigen. A total of 37 subjects out of 1500 (2.5%) were positive, with no significant difference in distribution between hepatitis B antigenemic and non-antigenemic samples. The prevalence of anti-HCV was higher in subjects with abnormal than those with normal liver function tests (8.2% vs. 1.5%). Prevalence increased with age. By polymerase chain reaction, 43% of anti-HCV-positive samples were HCV-RNA-positive. However, only 1 (0.6%) of 150 anti-HCV-negative subjects had HCV-RNA. Comparison of the results with those from a conventional recombinant C100-3-based assay showed that the capsid/non-structural region synthetic antigen system provided more accurate sensitivity and specificity. The more sensitive assay revealed a high prevalence for HCV infection of 2.5% among this general population in Taiwan. ? 1993 Elsevier Scientific Publishers Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
SDGs
Other Subjects
hepatitis c antibody; virus rna; adult; aged; article; controlled study; enzyme immunoassay; female; hepatitis c; human; major clinical study; male; polymerase chain reaction; priority journal; taiwan; Adult; Aged; Base Sequence; Female; Hepacivirus; Hepatitis Antibodies; Hepatitis C; Human; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Male; Middle Age; Molecular Sequence Data; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prevalence; Random Allocation; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Taiwan
Type
journal article