title: Potential infectivity of blood from HBsAg asymptomatic carriers due to the presence of HBV-DNA and comparison with other markers of HBV infection.
abstract: Serum samples from 356 HBsAg positive asymptomatic carriers, which were titrated by reverse passive hemagglutination, were analysed for the presence of HBV-DNA, HBsAg and IgM anti-HBc. The samples were divided in three classes, according to the titers of HBsAg and IgM anti-HBc and the distribution of HBV-DNA and HBsAg among these classes was studied. In the high titer class of HBsAg, 65% of samples have one or both markers against only 19% in the low titer class. From the total of 356 samples, 121 gave positive results for IgM anti-HBc (33.9%). From these, 38.9% of HBV-DNA and 47.9% of HBeAg were observed, whereas in samples with absence of IgM anti-HBc, 18.3% and 16.6% were respectively found. A higher frequency of agreement between all these markers was found in the class of high titers of HBsAg; however, HBV-DNA was detected in the low titer class of HBsAg and little or no IgM anti-HBc, showing potential blood infectivity even in HBsAg positive borderline samples.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Tedeschi
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Padilla
authors.forename: I F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: de Camargo
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000635:transmission*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M