Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Seropositivity in Patients Presenting for Dental Treatment

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and C among the patients who came for dental treatment to Bacha Khan Medical & Dental College, Mardan. Four hundred patients formed the study group. The blood samples of all these patients were taken in the hospital laboratory and were screened for HBsAg and Anti HCV using immunochromatography (ICT) method. The blood was collected by authorized technician and the sera were separated from the coagulated blood by centrifugation at 5000 rpm(revolution per minute) for 10 minutes at 4oC and stored at -20oC for further use. The HBV screening was based on the detection of antibodies against the related virus in the sera using enzyme immunoassays. HCV test is based on detecting viral specific antibodies in serum samples. Of 400 patients examined, 180 (45%) were females and 220(55%) were males. Their ages ranged from 15 to 60 years with a mean age of 33.61±15.41 years. The highest prevalence was found in lab. technicians and drivers (HCV=18% HBS=12%). The prevalence of HCV and HBV was nearly equal (HCV=7.75% and HBV = 7.0%). There was no statistical significant difference in prevalence of HCV and HBV in male and females.