Comparative study of different screening markers for hemodialysis patients infected with hepatitis C virus

Objective To assess the application value of different detection markers in the screening of HCV infection in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods 230 chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis were enrolled in the study. HCV Ag/anti-HCV, anti-HCV, HCV Ag, and HCV RNA were detected in the 230 serum samples. HCV infection ratio assessed by these markers were compared. Results Thirty-seven case (16.1%) of 230 chronic renal failure patients undergoing haemodialysis were HCV Ag/anti-HCV positive, 28 case (12.2% ) were anti-HCV positive, 10 case (4.3%) patients were HCV Ag positive and 18 case (7.8%) were HCV RNA positive. The positive rate of HCV was higher with HCV Ag/anti-HCV assay than that with anti-HCV assay, but there was no significant difference between them(16.1% vs. 12.2% ,χ2= 1.451,P=0.228). The positive rate with HCV Ag/anti-HCV (16.1%) assay was higher than HCV Ag assay (4.3%) and HCV RNA assay (7.8%), the differences were statistically significant (χ2=17.276, P=0.000; χ2=7.455, P=0.006). All anti-HCV positive samples (S/CO: 10.16-167.41) were also positive by HCV Ag/anti-HCV assay, while one HCV Ag positive sample was not detectable by HCV Ag/anti-HCV assay. Conclusions Compared with anti-HCV, HCV Ag and HCV BNA, the HCV Ag/anti-HCV assay provides a higher detection rate for HCV infection in HD patients. Key words: Hepatitis C;  Renal dialysis;  Hepacivirus