To Study the Seroprevalence of Hepatitis-C Virus Infection Among Patients Undergoing Surgery at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kanpur

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is among the major causes of acute and chronic hepatitis that leads to hepatic cirrhosis and carcinoma. According to global estimates, the prevalence rate of HCV in India is continuously increased in past decades and contributed around more than 11 million patients. Routine sensitive and specific methods are needed so that precise diagnosis can be made especially in patients undergoing surgical interventions. The present work compared the sensitivity and specificity of the rapid card test versus real time PCR (RT-PCR) for HCV confirmation in patients undergoing surgical procedure in several departments. Aim: The aims of the present study are to compare the Sensitivity and Specificity of the Rapid card test versus RT-PCR in detection of HCV and also determine the sero-prevalence of HCV in the study region. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology and Department of Medicine RMCH&RC UP from April 2023 to May 2024.All patients undergoing surgery were included in this study. Rapid HCV card test along with RT-PCR were performed to screen patients prior to surgery, and for each patient who tested positive using the rapid HCV, qualitative RT-PCR testing was done to confirm active viral load. Comparison of sensitivity and specificity were made between RAPID card test and RT-PCR. Results: The sero-prevalence of HCV in this study was 2%, among 2400 patients screened for HCV infection by using Rapid card & RT-PCR tests. 45 samples were found positive with Rapid Card test. While 48 sample were found positive by RT-PCR. Males were more affected than females. Sensitivity and specificity observed for rapid card was 85.29% and 100%, and RT-PCR showed100% sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: The study results concluded that RT-PCR method is more sensitive and specific compared to rapid card test for the detection of HCV and should be performed in all positive cases to confirm and to know the viral load of HCV.