title: Failure to detect hepatitis B virus in vitreous by polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assay the vitreous of asymptomatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers for the presence of HBV DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Vitreous and serum specimens were collected from 13 carriers of HBV. The presence of HBV DNA was investigated by using PCR and Digene's Hybrid Capture System. The presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in vitreous was also investigated by using the enzyme immunoassay (EIA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum was positive for HBV DNA in3 of the 13 asymptomatic carriers using PCR. Vitreous samples of all the patients, including 3 patients who were positive for HBV DNA in serum, were negative for HBV DNA with PCR and were negative for HBsAg with EIA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no evidence of HBV in the vitreous of asymptomatic HBV carriers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. drcaras@superonline.com
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aras
authors.forename: Akif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozdamar
authors.forename: Sevgi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ergin
authors.forename: Recep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: Kenan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Midilli
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karacorlu
authors.forename: Sehirbay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozkan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001769:Blood / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens