Shamsul Arfin Qasmi, Shamsa Aqeel, Muhammad Ahmed, Syed lqbal Alam, Aqeel Ahmad.
Detection of Hepatitis B Viruses in Normal Individuals of Karachi.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;10(12):467-9.

Two hundred normal individuals of Karachi were screened for Hepatitis B surface antigen HBsAg (Australia Antigens) to determine the presence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) by Immunochromatography test (ICT). Performance of ICT was then compared with ELISA for reliance. ICT was found equally sensitive and specific with that of ELISA for HBsAg. Both the ICT and ELISA results showed that 3% normal individuals of Karachi were positive for HBV. Interestingly, no child below the age of 10 years was found positive for HBsAg in our study. However, it was > 6% in male adults making it necessary to screen out population for detecting HBV presence by rapid and simple ICT In order to control the spread of HBV we recommend that non- infected population must be immunized with vaccine.

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