Prevalence of HCV infection in patients on haemodialysis: survey by antibody and core antigen detection.

PURPOSE The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of HCV infection by antibody testing and HCV core antigen (HCVcAg) determination by ELISA in haemodialysis patients and to evaluate the HCV c Ag assay in the detection of HCV infected patients on haemodialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 151 chronic renal failure patients on haemodialysis from May 2003 to October 2004 were studied. One hundred patients out of 151 were followed for 2-5 months. All the patients were tested for anti HCV and HCV core antigen once a month. Anti HCV ELISA positive specimens were confirmed by RIBA. RESULTS The overall prevalence of HCV infection was 13.23%. Antibody positivity was observed in 9.93% and HCVcAg alone was detected in 2.64%. One patient (0.66%) was initially positive for core antigen and later seroconverted. CONCLUSIONS Screening for HCV antibodies alone does not exclude infection with HCV in patients on haemodialysis and HCVcAg may be a useful test for identifying HCV infected patients on haemodialysis in the early phase of infection before seroconversion.