Background: Hepatitis B virus, as a member of the Hepadnaviridae
family, causes acute and chronic hepatitis in humans. In low-income countries
with a high burden of hepatitis B and C viruses, it is important to develop
inexpensive but effective strategies to diagnose and treat hepatitis. The aim
of this study is to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the serum
hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and that of the HBeAg envelope of the
different tests used in the south of the DR Congo compared to the reference
laboratory method.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in
the Democratic Republic of Congo precisely in the province of Haut-Katanga, the
case of the city of Lubumbashi, Likasi and that of Likasi. By identifying tests
in medical structures and collecting data on the principle of the test, antigen
preparation, manufacturer, sensitivity, and specificity. These tests were
further evaluated using samples previously evaluated by DNA PCR, sixty-five of
which had non-detected results and twenty-one detected for the calculation of
the evaluation parameters of a diagnostic test.
Results: 17 HBsAg tests were identified, 12 of which had a mention
of antigenic preparation consisting of monoclonal and polyclonal AntiHBsAg
antibodies and for which the Sensitivity for the test was 93.65%, specificity
of 99.35% for a PPV of 97.92% and an NPV of 97.97%; and for the 5 which did not
mention it, the values are respectively: 90% for sensitivity, 92.87% for
specificity, 87.09% for PPV and 92.87% NPV. The evaluation of the HBeAg test
compared to the HBV DNA PCR gave a sensitivity of 61.84%, a specificity of
78.55%, a PPV of 18.65% and an NPV of 96.28% for the tests including antigenic
preparation mentioned and 57.14% of sensitivity, 76.689% specificity, 7.61% PPV
and 097.55% NPV for tests which do not mention any.
Conclusion: The rapid tests used for HBsAg screening have low
sensitivity compared to WHO recommendations and specificity within the
standards. In low-income countries with a hepatitis B virus load, such as DR
Congo, it is necessary to choose a screening test that is highly effective,
easy to use, less expensive and gives rapid and accurate results. There is an
urgent need to develop HBeAg RDTs with improved sensitivity, suitable for use
in sub-Saharan Africa and validated with locally prevalent HBV genotypes, to
facilitate effective screening programs, treatment, and prevention of HBV.
Author(s)
Details
Kasamba
IE
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University
of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/ibs/v8/1395
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