Prevalence of False Negative Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Hemodialysis Patients

摘要

The prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection in hemodialysis (HD) patients is persistently greater than in the general population. Difference in prevalence rates of HCV infection in HD patients has been reported from different regions of Saudi Arabia. Despite the precautions taken on blood products, HCV transmission is still being observed among HD patients. In order to reduce the anti-HCV false-negative results; HCV RNA testing for blood screening has been implanted. Ninety eight HCV negative HD patients were recruited from two HD units for this study. Routine screening for anti-HCV, HBs Ag and anti-HIV, in addition to HCV RNA quantitative PCR were done for all HD patients. Among 98 HD patients with anti-HCV-negative, 17 (17.3%) were HCV-RNA positive by PCR, with viremia load ranged from 2000 to 5,507,245 IU/ml. Significant difference between False negative HCV patients and True negative HCV patients regarding duration of hemodialysis was noted. The current status of the HCV infection and the frequency of the false negative HCV infection in HD population were determined with recommendation of implanting HCV RNA screening as mandatory testing in HD patients.