Wilson Hussaina Bodeno, Lynn Maori, Maikudi Haruna, Samira David, Emmanuel Peter and Nuhu Mohammed
Risk of infection by hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses remains a challenge, to patients. It is often a major public health concern in low incomes countries. Hepatitis B and C virus infection is a major public health problem worldwide, while infection is high in the developing world particularly Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. This study is therefore aimed at estimating occurrence of Hepatitis B and C virus infection and its associated risk factors among patient attending Specialist Hospital Gombe. Samples from patients were obtained screened in the laboratory and were stored at room temperature by thawing and strips containing coated antigen to HBsAg kits removed from the foil. Cassettes were labeled according to samples. Using a separate disposable pipette, 2 drops of sample (plasma) was added into each test strip and allowed to run across the absorbent pad. Results were read after 15 minutes. Two controls were used in the test, where two red bands indicate positive; one band designates a negative test and no band at all means an invalid result. The occurrence of hepatitis B and C infection in 164 was estimated on plasma collected from the patients attending Specialist Hospital Gombe, using HBsAg and HCV test strips (ACON). The occurrence of HBV among patients was 37 out of 164 (22.5%), and also occurrence of HCV among patients was 11 out of 164 (6. 7%). In both estimations’ males were the ones that have the highest positive cases in HBV (12.8%) and (4.8%) in HCV. These findingswere based on screening using rapid test kits, therefore there is need for further investigations using high techniques like DNA hybridization and PCR to confirm the findings.
Infection, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Occurrence, Plasma