title: Quantitative detection of serum HBV DNA in Chinese patients.
abstract: The relationship between serum hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) and serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA determined by two commercially available assays was examined in 345 Chinese patients with chronic HBV infection. HBV DNA was detected by these commercial assays in 85% of the HBeAg-positive patients. Discrepancies between test results were found to occur when serum HBV DNA levels were low (< 5 pg ml-1 for the Abbott Genostics and < 100 MEq ml-1 for Chiron Quantiplex assays). An equation for the conversion between results generated by these two assays was derived, which was found to be very similar to the equation recently described by Kapke et al.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology / Q000821:virology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic