Clinical performance of the Abbott Alinity anti-HBc immunoassay and its association with FIB-4 score in risk stratification of liver fibrosis

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major global health concern, especially in immunocompromised individuals due to the risk of viral reactivation. Anti- HBc antibodies serve as key markers of past or ongoing infection. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of the Abbott Alinity anti-HBc assay and investigated the clinical significance of anti-HBc positivity, particularly in relation to liver fibrosis.

Methods

A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted on 10,377 serum samples tested for anti-HBc at Paris Saint Joseph Hospital between November 2022 and December 2023. The correlation between anti-HBc index values, HBsAg status, HBV DNA viral load, and fibrosis severity (via FIB-4 index) was analyzed across various patient populations, including immunocompromised and at-risk groups.

Results

Anti-HBc positivity was observed in 15.3 % of samples. Retesting had no impact on interpretation for samples with S/CO > 2. Anti-HBc levels were significantly higher in HBsAg-positive and DNA HBV-positive samples. Immunocompromised patients showed lower anti-HBc indices. A higher FIB-4 index was associated with anti- HBc positivity, suggesting a potential link between past HBV infection and increased risk of advanced fibrosis. No correlation was found between anti-HBc levels and HBV DNA viral load or HBsAg index.

Conclusion

The Abbott Alinity anti-HBc assay demonstrates strong performance, with minimal need for retesting outside the gray zone. Anti-HBc positivity may serve as an independent risk factor for liver fibrosis, underlining its importance in HBV surveillance, especially in immunocompromised patients. Clinical guidelines may consider tailored retesting strategies and emphasize nucleic acid testing for comprehensive HBV evaluation.