title: Comparison of two different methodologies for the detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in plasma.
abstract: In this study, two different methodologies were compared for the detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the plasma of 28 patients and 36 controls. Method 1 was a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by product detection in an ethidium bromide stained gel, whereas method II was a commercial single step PCR with digoxigenin labeled product captured by a probe and then detected in a digoxigenin-antidigoxigenin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DIG ELISA). The results indicate that both methods are comparable showing a concordance of 98.4%, there was no statistically significant difference in the detection rates. We feel that any one of these assays may be suitable in a clinical laboratory setting, though the commercial assay may offer some advantages to laboratories without sufficient skilled staff in trouble-shooting PCR related problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Virology, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Radhakrishnan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raghuraman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sridharan
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral