Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1-Infected Pregnant Women in Malawi: The BAN Study

Citation

Chasela, Charles S.; Wall, Patrick; Drobeniuc, Jan; King, Caroline C.; Teshale, Eyasu; Hosseinipour, Mina C.; Ellington, Sascha R.; Codd, Mary; Jamieson, Denise J.; & Knight, Rodney J., et al. (2012). Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1-Infected Pregnant Women in Malawi: The BAN Study. Journal of Clinical Virology, 54(4), 318-320. PMCID: PMC3652577

Abstract

Background: In Sub-Saharan Africa, prevalence estimates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) vary widely.
Objectives: To assess the prevalence of HCV infection among HIV-infected, pregnant women screened for a large clinical trial in Lilongwe, Malawi. Study design: Plasma from 2041 HIV-infected, pregnant women was screened for anti-HCV IgG using a chemiluminiscent immunometric assay (CIA). Specimens with a signal-cut-off ratio ≥ 1.00 were considered reactive and those with S/Co ratio < 1.00 non-reactive. All CIA-reactive specimens were tested by a recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) for anti-HCV and by PCR for HCV RNA.
Results: Of 2041 specimens, 110 (5.3%, 95% CI: 4.5–6.5%) were CIA reactive. Of the 109 CIA reactive specimens available for RIBA testing, 2 (1.8%) were positive, 28 (25.7%) were indeterminate, and 79 (72.5%) were negative. All CIA-reactive specimens were HCV RNA negative (n = 110). The estimated HCV prevalence based on the screening assay alone was 5.3%; based on supplemental RIBA testing, the status of HCV infection remained indeterminate in 1.4% (28/2040, 95% CI: 0.1–2.0) and the prevalence of confirmed HCV infections was 0.1% (2/2040, 95% CI: 0–0.4%).
Conclusions: HCV seroprevalence among HIV-infected, pregnant women in Malawi confirmed by supplemental RIBA HCV 3.0 is low (0.1%); CIA showed a high false-reactivity rate in this population.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcv.2012.05.003

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2012

Journal Title

Journal of Clinical Virology

Author(s)

Chasela, Charles S.
Wall, Patrick
Drobeniuc, Jan
King, Caroline C.
Teshale, Eyasu
Hosseinipour, Mina C.
Ellington, Sascha R.
Codd, Mary
Jamieson, Denise J.
Knight, Rodney J.
Fitzpatrick, Patricia
Kourtis, Athena P.
Hoffman, Irving F.
Kayira, Dumbani
Mumba, Noel
Kamwendo, Deborah D.
Martinson, Francis E. A.
Powderly, William
van der Horst, Charles M.
Kamili, Saleem, for the BAN Study Team [
Linda S. Adair, Member
]

PMCID

PMC3652577