title: [Molecular diagnosis of hepatitis C and hepatitis B infection].
abstract: Molecular methods are a well-established part of routine diagnostic work-up in patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Confirmation of active viral replication in infected patients is based on detection and/or quantification of viral genome in serum by molecular assays. Diagnostic algorithm for hepatitis C includes detection and/or quantification of HCV RNA in serum of infected patients and HCV genotyping. Diagnostic work-up in patients with hepatitis B includes quantification of HBV DNA in serum, HBV genotyping, and determination of resistance to nucleoside and nucleotide analogues. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the standard recommended molecular method for quantification of HCV RNA and HBV DNA in clinical samples. Due to superior sensitivity, real-time PCR assays can provide both qualitative detection of viral genome and quantification. Molecular diagnosis of HCV and HBV infections in clinical laboratories should be limited to certified standardized assays.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis, Dr Fran Mihaljević University Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Snjezana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zidovec Lepej
authors.forename: Davorka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dusek
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Budimir
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vince
mesh_terms: D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral