| Title | Hepatitis in used syringes: the limits of sensitivity of techniques to detect hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA, and antibodies to HBV core and HCV antigens. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 1996 |
| Authors | Heimer, R., K. Khoshnood, B. Jariwala-Freeman, B. Duncan, and Y. Harima |
| Journal | The Journal of infectious diseases |
| Volume | 173 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pagination | 997-1000 |
| Date Published | 1996 Apr |
| ISSN | 0022-1899 |
| Keywords | Base Sequence, DNA Primers, DNA, Viral, Hepacivirus, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis B Antibodies, Hepatitis B Core Antigens, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis C Antibodies, Hepatitis C Antigens, HIV Antibodies, HIV Infections, HIV-1, Humans, Immunoglobulin A, Secretory, Molecular Sequence Data, Pilot Projects, RNA, Viral, Stomach, Syringes |
| Abstract | Hepatitis virus infections are common among injecting drug users. Syringes containing hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR); syringes containing antibodies to HBV core antigen and HCV were identified by EIA. Syringe use was simulated to determine the sensitivity of these assays. The mean limits for PCR were 0.082 microliter of blood for HBV and 0.185 microliter for HCV; the mean limits for EIA were 0.185 microliter for HBV and 0.023 microliter for HCV. HBV PCR testing of 681 syringes returned to the needle exchange program in New Haven, Connecticut, revealed a decline from 7.8% HBV-positive at the program's outset to 2.6%. HCV antibodies were found in 12.1% of 207 syringes tested. Syringe testing can help estimate the prevalence and incidence of hepatitis virus infections when standard seroepidemiologic analyses cannot be applied. |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03149.x |
| Alternate Journal | J. Infect. Dis. |
