title: An enzyme-linked (alkaline phosphatase) oligonucleotide probe for the detection of serum hepatitis B virus DNA.
abstract: Serum HBV-DNA detection represents a new and important diagnostic tool for the hepatologist, as well as a prognostic and therapeutic guide. Though most laboratories use genomic radioactive probes, the appearance of commercially available enzyme-linked oligonucleotide probes, which simplify the method, represents an advance in HBV-DNA detection. In order to verify the value of an enzyme-linked (alkaline phosphatase) oligonucleotide probe in HBV-DNA detection, we have first compared the results of the detection of serum HBV-DNA in 46 patients at different serological stages of HBV infection using this probe and with those obtained using a genomic P32-labeled probe. Fisher's test analysis of the results shows statistical significance; this indicates a high correlation between methods. Secondly, we have tested 296 sera of patients at different serological stages of HBV infection with the enzyme-linked probe; we have found HBV-DNA in 8 patients with acute hepatitis (61.54%), 61 HBeAg (70.12%), and 7 anti-HBe (12.07%) chronic hepatitis. These results show the value of this probe for routine survey of serum HBV-DNA using a simple method which avoids the use of radioactivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University Hospital, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quiros
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bernal
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salmeron
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Maroto
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D015342:DNA Probes; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000382:microbiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase