title: Combined branched-DNA and conventional HBV PCR assays for detection of serum HBV-DNA in hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Monitoring of HBV replication level is very useful for the management of patients with chronic HBV. However, the use of the correct tools to quantify HBV-DNA levels in serum and monitor the replication of HBV is of paramount importance in terms of diagnosis, and antiviral treatment of patients with chronic HBV infection. The aim of this study was to combine the bDNA assay and HBV PCR to improve detection of viremia the patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 67 HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients were analyzed to determine viremia level using bDNA and HBV PCR assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-four patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B showed positivity by conventional HBV PCR, whereas 56 subjects with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B showed HBV-DNA levels by bDNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicated that it is reasonable to use the bDNA assay to determine HBV replicative activity first, and use conventional HBV-PCR for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patient samples that are negative in bDNA assay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Clinic Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Firat, Elazig, Turkey. aozdarendeli@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Aykut
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozdarendeli
authors.forename: Zulal Asci
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Toroman
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bulut
authors.forename: Kutbeddin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Demirbag
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalkan
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozden
authors.forename: Suleyman Sirri
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kilic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D021121:Branched DNA Signal Amplification Assay; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens