title: Serum hepatitis B virus DNA in healthy HBsAg-negative Chinese adults evaluated by polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: Serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was assayed using polymerase chain reaction, in 107 HBsAg-negative normal Chinese subjects. The results showed that eight subjects (7.5%) had HBV DNA. In the subgroup with antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) and to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), 7.3% (5/68) were positive for HBV DNA; HBV DNA was not detected in six individuals with anti-HBs only and in nine with anti-HBc only. In four persons with anti-HBc and anti-HBe, one had HBV DNA. In 20 subjects negative for all hepatitis B serological markers, two (10%) were found to have HBV DNA. This study indicates that serological markers are not adequate to rule out HBV infection, and it further implies that present blood donor screening methods may need improving.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, R.O.C.
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens