Advanced Research Journal of Microbiology ISSN: 1718-3499, Vol. 5 (7), pp. 293-296 September, 2018. © Advanced Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of Hepatitis B virus through RT PCR in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

*Malala Salam Akram, Shahid Muhammad and Liaquat Faiz Ahmad

Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 22 April, 2018

Abstract

Pakistan is highly endemic for Hepatitis B virus. Many studies have shown that 32% of patients with liver diseases are suffering with hepatitis B. Objective: The present project was designed to check the prevalence of Hepatitis B in those peoples of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who visited a specific laboratory for diagnosis. The method included a four months data of Hepatitis B positive patients from January 2011 to April 2011, diagnosed through real time polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR). For this purpose a questionnaire was prepared. Tests were conducted and data was collected from Biotech Medical Lab and Research Centre, Islamabad. The collected data was evaluated for prevalence rate, month wise prevalence, age wise prevalence, gender wise prevalence, quantitative tests range and ALT range. A comparison was also made between the results of RT PCR with that of ICT KIT. The prevalence rate was 47.06% which require a special attention. In age wise prevalence, the people more affected were in age group of 21 to 30 years. The prevalence rate was high in male as compared to female. A high number of patients (50.47%) were detected through ICT KIT, when compared to RT PCR. But RT PCR is most authentic and valuable due to its high sensitivity and specificity. The present study will provide reports and recommendations to the concerned quarter and will make awareness of Hepatitis B among patients for its elimination. Moreover, same study should be conducted in large population size to determine the other risk factors.

Key words: Hepatitis B, real time polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR), prevalence, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.