Increasing frequency of Anti-HCV seropositivity in a cross-section of people in Karachi, Pakistan

Objective: to determine the current frequency of circulating anti-hcv antibody in a cross section of subjects in karachi, pakistan and compare it with previous observations. methodology: a total of 35,191 individuals of both sexes presenting at a private diagnostic lab and its branches in karachi city were screened for anti-hcv antibody during a two year period ending dec 2010. positive tests were detected using evolis automated 4th generation analyzer and confirmed with cobas e411 random access solid phase chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay. also, a retrospective scrutiny of 37,391 subjects tested in the same lab during 2002-07 suggested 5.9% anti-hcv seropositivity, and was considered for comparison. results: anti-hcv antibodies were detected in 3170 (9.01%) of those assessed. the youngest positive subject was a 5-day-old male neonate, the eldest an 82-year-old male. the majority of carriers (48.0%) were aged 30-49 years and 53.1% of those tested positive in karachi, pakistan were female. carrier rate of anti-hcv antibody was 5.9% during 2002-07 recorded in the same lab. conclusion: hcv antibody frequency in our karachi subjects have steadily increased from 5.9% in 2002-07 to 9.01% in 2009-10, encouraging awareness and enquiry of reasons for the increasing reach of a significant virus.