ABSTRACT

Introduction: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a Flaviviridae-related virus that causes a systemic illness that can be transmitted. HCV is a blood-borne infection that primarily affects the liver. HCV diagnosis that is accurate and timely is critical in significantly reducing the risk of morbidity and mortality. The goal of this study was to find out the Hepatitis C in chronic renal failure patients who are on hemodialysis.

Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the Dialysis Unit of the Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) Peshawar's Department of Nephrology. From September to December 2017, this study took place over four months. The study included a total of 114 patients, regardless of their age or gender. Hepatitis C was detected in whole blood samples collected from 114 healthy people using an immunochromatography method. The data was analyzed using SPSS v.22.

Result: The Immunochromatography technique for HCV was used to analyze 114 blood samples from recruited individuals. Male patients were 52.6% of the total, while female patients made up 47.4%.  The study found that 24.56% of male patients were positive, while 28.07% of female patients were positive. Overall, the technique's sensitivity and specificity were 83.1% and 72.7%, respectively.

Conclusion: It is concluded that the HCV rapid testing is still sensitive and specific for detecting hepatitis C virus, it should be used in routine clinical settings for early hepatitis C virus diagnosis when advanced diagnostic options are restricted.