Objective: To study the status of detection of hepatitis C core antigen in intravenous drug addictions, and discuss the foreground of the hepatitis C core antigen ELISA test system.
Methods: HCV core antigen, HCV RNA quantity, anti HCV-IgG, HBsAg were analysis in all the plasma samples taken from 93 cases of intravenous drug users.
Results: The specialty and sensitivity of HCV core antigen in intravenous drug addictions 100% -54% separately. When HBsAg were positive, the sensitivity of HCV core antigen was 38%, while HBsAg negative, the sensitivity of HCV core antigen was 69% (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: The detections of HCV core antigen showed high specialty but low sensitivity in intravenous drug addictions. The positive rate has positive relation with HCV RNA virus logarithm quantity. Coinfection with HBV are the interfere factor of HCV core antigen detection. In screening experimentations, the detection of HCV core antigen in plasma may be applied as supplement method for anti-HCV-IgG. It can also be used to monitor viremia in HCV infection.