Background: Patients who are negative for hepatitis B (HB) develop altered liver functions (LF) and there is a possibility that HC and HB co – exist.
Objectives:
1)To determine prevalence of HC
2)To determine co –existence of HB and HC
Method: A descriptive prospective study was carried out for two years from January 2009. Blood samples positive for HB antigen ( 37 in 2009 and 76 in 2010) and which were tested negative for HB antigen but found to be having altered LF ( 36 in 2009 and 90 in 2010) were tested for HC antibodies using fourth generation Enzyme ImmunoAssay ( ELISA). Age and gender matched control samples were tested using the same test kit. Samples which would be positive by ELISA were to be confirmed by HC virus RNA using HCV RT- PCR.
Results: One sample became positive for HC antibodies which is from a HB positive child with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Positivity was confirmed by HCV RT – PCR. All other samples were negative by fourth generation ELISA. Prevalence of HC seems to be low. Co – existence of HB and HC was found only in one child.
Conclusions: As detection of HCV RNA from blood or tissue of the infected person is considered as the reference standard for the diagnosis of active HCV infection, testing samples for HCV RNA by further research activities is essential before coming to a conclusion, though positive results have been obtained in this population with fourth generation ELISA in other countries.