J Clin Pathol Qual Control.  2001 Dec;23(2):269-272.

Comparison of Hepatitis B Virus Detection by Direct Hybridization Assay and Polymerase Chain Reaction

• Kwon OG
• Uh Y
• Lee MK
• Yoon KJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in serum is the best indication of active viral replication. We revaluate Digene Hybrid Capture(TM) HBV DNA assay (HC), a commercial kit for quantitative assay of HBV DNA, reported to be an insensitive methods with many false negative results in Korea.
METHODS
We analyzed hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), HC, and HBV DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with 33 samples requested for HBV PCR.
RESULTS
HBV DNA was detected by HC and PCR in eleven (91.7%) of twelve cases with positive HBsAg and HBeAg. Among 15 cases with HBsAg positivity and HBeAg negativity, HBV DNA was detected in 5 (33.3%) by HC and 7 (46.7%) by PCR. Overall false negative rate of HC was 6.0% (2/33).
CONCLUSIONS
Although the detection limit of HC is higher than that of PCR, HC allows quantitation of viral load and seems to be useful to follow up the patients with chronic hepatitis B and to evaluate the treatment response of acute hepatitis B.

MeSH Terms

DNA
Hepatitis B e Antigens
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Hepatitis B virus*
Hepatitis B*
Hepatitis B, Chronic
Hepatitis*
Humans
Korea
Limit of Detection
Polymerase Chain Reaction*
Viral Load
DNA
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Hepatitis B e Antigens