Bernard Weber, Annemarie Berger
Molecular detection of hepatitis B virus: recent developments. Molekularer Nachweis des Hepatitis B-Virus: Aktueller Entwicklungsstand
Highly sensitive qualitative and quantitative automated nucleic acid amplification tests (NATs) that are commercially available for the detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection have been developed only in the last few years. The potential indications for HBV NATs are: follow-up of chronic hepatitis B, therapy and antiviral resistance monitoring, determination of infectivity and transmission risk, detection of occult (HBsAg-negative and HBV DNA-positive) infection and mutant virus which may escape serologic diagnosis, blood donor screening, and resolution of unusual or discordant serologic constellations. Although NATs are now widely implemented in the routine diagnosis of clinical laboratories, there are several important issues which need to be further investigated. Standardisation of NATs used for the monitoring of antiviral therapy and follow-up of chronic infection is still lacking, and the clinical significance of HBV DNA levels needs to be clarified. The influence of genetic variability in terms of genotype variation has been poorly investigated so far. Although there are highly sensitive automated NATs for blood donor screening available, their implementation is still subject to discussion and certain countries rejected HBV DNA testing for blood donation for reasons of poor cost-effectiveness.
LaboratoriumsMedizin, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 0025-8466
Volume: 29, 01/2005
Pages: 33 - 43
Show full article (external site)
Show all available items of this journal
Search
