Comparative Evaluation of Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay Method and Immunochromatographic Rapid Test Strip in the Diagnosis of Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected Patients in North Western Nigeria

Abstract

Background: This study aimed at comparing results of the rapid test strips and ELISA method in the detection of HBsAg among HIV infected patients.
Methods: The study was a cross sectional in which 180 treatment naïve adult HIV infected patients were screened for HBsAg using rapid test strips and these were re-tested for HBsAg with ELISA method. The CD4+T cell counts was performed with Cyflowcounter machine. Interviewer administered questionnaire technique was adopted in obtaining information about the study participants.
Results: Eighteen (10%) and thirty seven (20.6 %) patients were positive for HBsAg using HBsAg rapid test strips and HBsAg ELISA kit respectively. The false positive and false negative of the rapid test strips with ELISA as a gold standard were 11.11 % and 12.96 % respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of rapid test strips with ELISA as a gold standard were 43.24 % and 98.60 % respectively. About 22(59.5 %) of those positive for HBsAg with ELISA method were severely immunosuppressed.
Conclusion: Rapid test strips were inferior compared to ELISA in the detection of HBsAg among HIV infected patients and severe immunosuppression might impair the performance of rapid test strips. Manufacturing companies need to improve on their rapid test strips. Validation of rapid test strips prior to their usages should be ensured. WHO and member states should come up with standard protocol for the screening and diagnosis of HBV infection and there is need to step up HBV immunization strategies.