Evaluation of Diagnostic Value of Elisa Method (EIA) & PCR in Diagnosis of Hepatitis C Virus In Hemodialysis Patients

Since hepatitis C Virus has contaminated approximately 170 millions people over the world. Applying serological screening methods using EIA has led to decline the risk of transmission. However, in chronic renal disease and hemodialysis patients, the EIA method is not sufficient for diagnosis of HCV. Therefore, PCR method is suggested for rapid diagnosis of the disease in this group of patients. Of 50 collected blood specimens from hemodialysis patients serum separated and stored at -20º C. Then they were examined by the methods of EIA and PCR. Using EIA method, 19 cases were positive (38%) and 31 cases were found negative (62%). In PCR method, 12 cases were found positive (24%) and 38 (76%) were negative. In this method, 12 cases were found real positive and 38 cases were found real negative. While, using EIA method, 5 cases were real positive and 24 cases were real negative and 14 cases were found false positive and 7 cases false negative. Considering the obtained results and their comparison, it is observed that the PCR method is accredited as a specific and reliable method suitable for public screening and that the PCR method is recommended as an exact and final diagnosis method of these patients.