title: Direct detection of hepatitis B virus from dried blood spots by polymerase chain reaction amplification.
abstract: The presence of hepatitis B virus DNA in the sera of individuals is the most definitive marker of an active viral infection. We have used polymerase chain reaction detection of hepatitis B virus DNA directly on whole blood dried as a spot on filter paper. The method is rapid, specific, and sensitive and has the ability to detect as little as 10 virus particles by ethidium bromide staining of the polymerase chain reaction-amplified products. The method is cost-effective, and the stability of the spots makes the collection and transportation of potentially infectious blood safe.
authors.affiliation: Virology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jayasuryan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jameel
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002353:Carrier State / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral