Download Hepatitis B testing

Research Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology “Georgi D. Efremov”, MASA
Hepatitis B testing
What is Hepatitis B?
How is hepatitis B diagnosed?
Hepatitis B is an infectious inflammatory illness of
the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus. Acute hepatitis B
is a short-term infection with the hepatitis B virus.
Symptoms usually last several weeks but they can last up
to 6 months. The infection sometimes clears up because
your body is able to fight off the infection and get rid of
the virus. Most healthy adults and children older than 5
who have hepatitis B get better without treatment.
Chronic hepatitis B is a long-lasting infection with the
hepatitis B virus. Chronic hepatitis B occurs when the
body can’t get rid of the hepatitis B virus. Children,
especially infants, are more likely to get chronic hepatitis
B, which usually has no symptoms until signs of liver
damage appear. Without treatment, chronic hepatitis B
can cause liver cancer or severe liver damage that leads
to liver failure. Liver failure occurs when the liver stops
working properly.
The tests, called assays, for detection of hepatitis B virus
infection involve serum or blood tests that detect either viral
antigens
(proteins
produced
by
the
virus)
or antibodies produced by the host. However, this test
remains positive even in people who have cleared the virus
from their body.
If the antibody/antigens test is positive, then a further blood
test is needed to see if the virus is still present. This is called
a HBV DNA-PCR test. This is a more specialized test which
detect the DNA virus. There are several variants of the HBV
DNA-PCR test by which we can detect and quantify the virus.
How can you get hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a blood-borne disease. The main source of
infection is from blood from an infected person. Most
cases are caused by using contaminated needles or
injecting equipment to inject drugs or other injuries
involving blood spillage from infected people, from sharing
toothbrushes, razors, and other items which may be
contaminated with infected blood. There is a small risk
from re-used equipment used for tattooing, body piercing,
acupuncture, etc. Also there is a small risk that an
infected mother can pass on the infection to her baby or
an infected person can pass on the virus whilst having
sex. The virus is not passed on during normal social
contact, such as holding hands, hugging, or sharing
cups or crockery.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis B
infection?
Analysis method performed at RCGEB
HBV diagnosis at RCGEB is performed by two analysis. First,
HBV detection is performed by PCR/ASO hybridization
method. Second analysis quantification of HBV DNA is
performed using AMPLICOR HBV Monitor kit (Roche
Molecular Diagnostics, Pleasanton, California, USA). The
analysis has the limit of quantification of 1000 copies/ml.
Who should be tested?
The following groups should be tested for HBV:
 Anyone who shares equipment for injecting drug use,
including needles and syringes, as well as other injecting
equipment or has done so in the past
 Patients who have abnormal liver function test results
 People who have had a sexual partner who is hepatitis B
positive
 Patients on hemodialysis
 Healthcare workers who perform exposure-prone
procedures
Material for testing
Most people remain healthy without any symptoms while
they fight off the virus. Some will not even know they
have been infected. However, until the virus has been
cleared from their body, they can pass it onto others. If
there are any symptoms, they will develop on average 6090 days after exposure to the hepatitis B virus. Flu-like
symptoms, such as tiredness, general aches and pains,
headaches and a high temperature of or above 38°C, loss
of appetite and weight loss, feeling sick, being sick,
diarhea, pain in your upper right-hand side, yellowing of
the skin and eyes (jaundice).
Whole blood specimens in sterile tubes without
anticoagulant EDTA
HBV tests performed at RCGEB
HBV assay
Price (МКД)
HBV DNA PCR detection
3500
HBV DNA PCR quantification
4300
Literature:
1. Valsamiki S, A. 2007: Molecular Testing in the Diagnosis Management of Chronic Hepatitis B. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 3 426-439
RCGEB, 2013