SynthesisBMC infectious diseases2017
Diagnostic accuracy of serological diagnosis of hepatitis C and B using dried blood spot samples (DBS): two systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Synthesis in BMC infectious diseases, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 52 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
52 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 103 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of laboratory-based screening for hepatitis C in dried blood spot samples: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2019Pooled it
- Diagnostic accuracy of detection and quantification of HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA using dried blood spot (DBS) samples - a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC infectious diseases · 2017Pooled it
- Five Years of HCV Dried Blood Spot Testing in At-Risk Populations and the Impact of Reduced Sensitivity on Missed Diagnoses.Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver · 2026Article
- Hepatitis B Virus Diagnosis Using Dried Blood Spots in the D.R. Congo: Overcoming Misdiagnosis to Achieve 2030 WHO Targets.Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Article
- Sensitivity and specificity of Dried Blood Spot and Plasma Separation Card samples for Hepatitis C Virus RNA Testing.PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- Comprehensive at-home sexually transmitted and blood borne infection (STBBI) testing program: A pilot study.International journal of STD & AIDS · 2026Article
- Sensitivity and specificity of dried blood spot samples for hepatitis C virus RNA testing.BMC infectious diseases · 2025Article
- Dried Blood Spots and Plasma Separation Cards can Broaden Access to Molecular Testing for HBV, HCV and HIV.Reviews in medical virology · 2025Review
- Portable hepatitis C virus RNA extraction and stabilization using low-cost lab-on-a-chip style components with shelf stable reagents.Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical · 2025Article
- Hepatitis B and C Screening and Linkage to Care in Migrants From Endemic Countries in Barcelona Through a Community Action.Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver · 2025Article
- Shadow of a Pandemic: Persistence of Prenatal SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Newborn Blood Spots.International journal of neonatal screening · 2023Article
- Article
- Current tests for diagnosis of hepatitis B virus infection and immune responses of HBV-related HCC.Frontiers in oncology · 2023Review
- Feasibility of dried blood spot for hepatitis C diagnosis in vulnerable subjects and people living in remote areas from Brazil.BMC infectious diseases · 2022Article
- Dried blood spot is the feasible matrix for detection of some but not all hepatitis B virus markers of infection.BMC research notes · 2022Article
- A collaborative approach to hepatitis C testing in two First Nations communities of northwest Ontario.Canadian liver journal · 2022Article
- Challenge of managing hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections in resource-limited settings.World journal of hepatology · 2022Review
- Development and Implementation of Dried Blood Spot-Based COVID-19 Serological Assays for Epidemiologic Studies.Microbiology spectrum · 2022Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
13 authors at 7 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundDried blood spots (DBS) are a convenient tool to enable diagnostic testing for viral diseases due to transport, handling and logistical advantages over conventional venous blood sampling. A better understanding of the performance of serological testing for hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) from DBS is important to enable more widespread use of this sampling approach in resource limited settings, and to inform the 2017 World Health Organization (WHO) guidance on testing for HBV/HCV.
methodsWe conducted two systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the diagnostic accuracy of HCV antibody (HCV-Ab) and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) from DBS samples compared to venous blood samples. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health and Cochrane library were searched for studies that assessed diagnostic accuracy with DBS and agreement between DBS and venous sampling. Heterogeneity of results was assessed and where possible a pooled analysis of sensitivity and specificity was performed using a bivariate analysis with maximum likelihood estimate and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). We conducted a narrative review on the impact of varying storage conditions or limits of detection in subsets of samples. The QUADAS-2 tool was used to assess risk of bias.
resultsFor the diagnostic accuracy of HBsAg from DBS compared to venous blood, 19 studies were included in a quantitative meta-analysis, and 23 in a narrative review. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were 98% (95%CI:95%-99%) and 100% (95%CI:99-100%), respectively. For the diagnostic accuracy of HCV-Ab from DBS, 19 studies were included in a pooled quantitative meta-analysis, and 23 studies were included in a narrative review. Pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity were 98% (CI95%:95-99) and 99% (CI95%:98-100), respectively. Overall quality of studies and heterogeneity were rated as moderate in both systematic reviews.
conclusionHCV-Ab and HBsAg testing using DBS compared to venous blood sampling was associated with excellent diagnostic accuracy. However, generalizability is limited as no uniform protocol was applied and most studies did not use fresh samples. Future studies on diagnostic accuracy should include an assessment of impact of environmental conditions common in low resource field settings. Manufacturers also need to formally validate their assays for DBS for use with their commercial assays.
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Registered trials
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