Comparison of third generation ELISA and conventional nested RT-PCR for detection of HCV among hemodialysis patients.

Hepatitis C virus is one of the main cause of chronic hepatitis in developing countries. The current study was done to evaluate the efficacy of the third generation ELISA compared to nested RT- PCR for establishing the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients on hemodialysis. This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out on 237 Hemodialysis patients in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The retrospective demographic data of the subjects was collected and the patient’s serum samples were analyzed by ELISA & RT-PCR for HCV. In the present study, of total 21 HCV positive either by ELISA or PCR 12 (57.14%) were positive for both RT-nested PCR and ELISA. Total four (19.05%) patients were positive for HCV by RT-nested PCR and negative by ELISA while five (23.81%) patients were negative for RT-nested PCR and positive for ELISA. PCR method is accredited as a specific and reliable method suitable for screening of HCV and is recommended for establishing exact and final diagnosis of these patients. However third generation ELISA assays have many advantages in the diagnostic setting including ease of automation, ease of use, relative cost-effectiveness, and low variability.

Co-positivity of anti-dengue virus and anti-Japanese encephalitis virus IgM in endemic area: co-infection or cross reactivity?

OBJECTIVE@#To report high co-positivity of anti-dengue virus (DV) and anti-Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) IgM in an area endemic for both the viruses and to discuss the possibilities of co-infection.@*METHODS@#Serum samples from the patients who presented with fever, suspected central nervous system infection and thrombocytopenia, were tested for anti-DV IgM and anti-JEV IgM antibodies. Conventional reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was done for detection of DV RNA and JEV RNA.@*RESULTS@#Of 1 410 patient sera tested for anti-DV and anti-JEV antibodies, 129 (9.14%) were co-positive for both. This co-positivity was observed only in those months when anti-JEV IgM positivity was high. Titers of both anti-DV IgM and anti-JEV IgM were high in most of the co-positive cases. Among these 129 co-positive cases, 76 were tested by conventional reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for both flaviviruses, of which eight cases were co-positive for DV and JEV.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Co-infection with more than one flavivirus species can occur in hyperendemic areas.