Diagnostic test ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) is now viewed as a fast, sensitive and affordable test option for hepatitis, according to gastroenterologists.

The dreaded disease reports one lakh fatal cases annually in the country. The  World Health Organization (WHO) reports that around 2 billion people globally are  infected with the virus and in India alone, there are 40 million carriers of the disease. Of the 25 million children that are born in India every year, 1 million of them run the risk of developing chronic hepatitis B virus.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and is detected by an elevation of  SGOT and SGPT levels which is detected using ELISA tests which are  easily available at hospitals and diagnostic centres in the country, stated Dr Poorna Chandra, consultant, gastroenterologist, Fortis Hospitals.

Hepatitis A & C are detected by looking at the antibody produced by the body to these viruses. HBV is diagnosed by detecting the presence of HBsAg (surface antigen) in the blood. These are detected by a diagnostic test called ELISA. It is available in the form of rapid (5min), less sensitive, cheap (Rs. 150-Rs. 300 ) or the sensitive method which takes 4 to 6 hours to report at a cost of Rs 800-Rs. 1,000. The ELISA test is reported to have over 90 per cent accuracy but this would depend on the reliability of the lab, added Dr Chandra.

Tests for hepatitis are extensively accessible but there is a need to sensitize both the general public and medical practitioners to insist on the test to help prevention and early treatment options. Hepatitis B & C can be a major debilitating diseases and are contagious through direct contact with the blood or open sores of an infected person, or through shared needles. Therefore early test is simple and affordable but cost issues crop in when additional investigations like viral load and genotype are required, said Dr Chandra.

According to Dr Dinesh Kini, consultant, gastroenterologist, Manipal Health Enterprises, regular testing for hepatitis B is recommended for high risk groups which include patients with history of transfusion of blood, dialysis and chemotherapy. In addition, healthcare workers including doctors, nurses, lab technicians, family members of  hepatitis B positive patients and those known for intravenous drug abuse and tattooing should ensure tests at regular intervals.

The big challenge for medical experts was that hepatitis surfaced with no visible symptoms and therefore blood tests helped to determine and confirm the chronic infection, added the gastroenterologists.