title: Mini review: current molecular methods for the detection and quantification of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus type 1.
abstract: The detection of acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is vital for controlling the spread of HIV, HBV, and HCV to uninfected individuals. Considering that these viruses have high replication rates and are undetectable by serological markers, early detection upon transmission is crucial. Various nucleic acid assays have been developed for diagnostics and therapeutic monitoring of infections. In the past decade, rapid and sensitive molecular techniques such as PCR have revolutionized the detection of a variety of infectious viruses, including HIV, HCV, and HBV. Here, we describe two of the most commonly used licensed methods for the detection and quantification of HIV, HCV, and HBV: the cobas TaqScreen MPX (PCR) test and the Tigris System. We used transcription-mediated amplification to review and compare the development and efficiency of these technologies.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Department of Medicine, Nephrology Division, Rua Botucatu 740, São Paulo, 04023-900, SP, Brazil; Colsan (Associação Beneficente de Coleta de Sangue), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: gui.albertoni@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Albertoni
authors.affiliation: Colsan (Associação Beneficente de Coleta de Sangue), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manoel João Batista
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Castelo Girão
authors.affiliation: Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Department of Medicine, Nephrology Division, Rua Botucatu 740, São Paulo, 04023-900, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nestor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schor
mesh_terms: D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards
keywords: HBV; HCV; HIV; NAT testing