ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) through EB virus antibody profile by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>EBNA 1/IgA, EBNA 1/IgG and zta/IgG by ELISA and VCA/IgA by immmunoenzymatic method were detected in 121 NPC patients and 332 healthy subjects (HS) in the Pearl river estuary.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sensitivity rates were 85%, 83% and 79% for EBNA 1/IgA, EBNA 1/IgG and zta/IgG, all three of which if combined was the highest 92%. The specificity rates were 86%, 86% and 80% for EBNA 1/IgA, EBNA 1/IgG and zta/IgG, all three of which if combined was also the highest 93%. According to the level of odds ratio, nasopharyngeal carcinoma risk could be divided into 3 groups: low, moderate and high-risk groups. 93% of HS had low risk of NPC with the odds ratio 0.0 to 0.3. 0.4% of HS had high risk of NPC with the odds ratio of 137.9%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ELISA is more objective than the traditional immunoenzymatic method in the detection and diagnosis of NPC. The combination of EBNA 1/IgA, EBNA 1/IgG and zta/IgG is able to evaluate the risk of NPC.</p>