Semi-quantitative real-time PCR: A useful approach to identify persons with low replicative chronic hepatitis B

• Published in: Journal of virological methods Vol. 244; pp. 1 - 3
• Main Authors: Castéra-Guy, Joany, Rubbo, Pierre-Alain, Kania, Dramane, Lemoine, Maud, Van de Perre, Philippe, Tuaillon, Edouard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.06.2017; Elsevier
• Subjects: Diagnosis; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B virus - genetics; Hepatitis B virus - isolation & purification; Hepatitis B, Chronic - diagnosis; Humans; Inactive chronic hepatitis; Life Sciences; Monitoring; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Resource-limited settings; Semi-quantitative PCR; Resource-limited settings; Inactive chronic hepatitis; Hepatitis B virus; Diagnosis; Monitoring; Semi-quantitative PCR; Chronic; Humans; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Hepatitis B
• ISSN: 0166-0934; 1879-0984
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2017.01.003

•A new semi-quantitative PCR identified 40/40 patients with low replicative HBV DNA.•The PCR identified 95% (58/61) with moderate/high levels of HBV DNA.•The new test can efficiently guide therapeutic decision for chronic HBV carriers.•A Diagnostic tool adapted for HBV detection and monitoring in low resource areas. Antiviral therapy can be avoided during the low replicative phase of chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection which is characterized notably by HBV DNA concentration below 2000IU/ml. Simplified diagnostic tests can improve access to HBV DNA monitoring in resource-limited settings. The capacity of a new semi-quantitative real-time PCR approach based on sample-to-standard relative detection of the target to discriminate samples with HBV DNA levels above or below the clinical threshold of 2000IU/ml was compared to a quantitative assay (Roche CobasAmpliPrep/CobasTaqMan HBV Test v2.0). The semi-quantitative assay correctly identified 40/40 (100%) low replicative HBV DNA patients and 58/61 (95%) samples from HBV-infected subjects with moderate/high levels of viral DNA. Our results suggested that this alternative PCR test is efficient to guide therapeutic decision based on identification of low replicative HBV infection from all of the chronic hepatitis B carriers requiring treatment, and may be useful in resource-limited settings where the vast majority of cases live.