title: Rapid and quantitative detection of hepatitis B virus.
abstract: Despite availability of a universal vaccine, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has a huge impact on public health worldwide. Accurate and timely diagnosis of HBV infection is needed. Rapid developments have been made in the diagnostic and monitoring methods for HBV infection, including serological and molecular assays. In clinical practice, qualitative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) testing has long served as a diagnostic marker for individuals infected with HBV. More recently, HBsAg level has been used to predict treatment outcome when determined early during treatment or at baseline. However, identification of HBV DNA positive cases that do not have detectable HBsAg has encouraged the application of molecular tests. Hence, combination of quantitative detection of HBV DNA and HBsAg can be used to discriminate patients during the course of HBV infection and to monitor therapy. This article reviews the most commonly used quantitative methods for HBsAg and HBV DNA.
authors.affiliation: Yue-Ping Liu, Chun-Yan Yao, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Yue-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Yue-Ping Liu, Chun-Yan Yao, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019562:Viral Load; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
keywords: Biosensor; Hepatitis B virus; Isothermal amplification methods; Polymerase chain reaction; Quantitative assay