Comparison of three different hybridization assays in the quantitative measurement of serum hepatitis B virus DNA.

Abstract

The measurement of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, is important for monitoring and evaluating the efficacy of anti-viral agents in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B. Three different hybridization assays for quantitative measurement of HBV DNA: direct membrane (dot-blot) hybridization, liquid hybridization (Abbott HBV DNA assay) and branched DNA signal amplification assay (Quantiplex, Chiron), were applied to 114 serial serum samples obtained from 13 patients with chronic active hepatitis B who had received ribavirin 600 mg daily for four weeks. Among the three assays, the correlation was found to be highest between Quantiplex and Abbott HBV DNA assay (r = 0.71, p < 0.01), moderate between Quantiplex and dot-blot hybridization (r = 0.58, p < 0.01) and lowest between dot-blot hybridization and Abbott HBV DNA assay (r = 0.27, p < 0.01). Quantiplex detected 107 (94%) of 114 specimens and was the most sensitive assay. All specimens positive by dot-blot hybridization and Abbott HBV DNA assays were detected positive by Quantiplex. The Dot-blot hybridization assay detected all 89 (100%) specimens with a high HBV DNA level (> or = 10 million genome equivalent (Meq)/ml by Quantiplex), but detected only 7 (50%) of 14 specimens with a low HBV DNA level (< 10 Meq/ml). The Abbott HBV DNA assay detected 85 (95%) of 89 specimens with a high HBV DNA level, but detected only 3 (17%) of 18 specimens with a low HBV DNA level. Among 7 negative specimens in the Quantiplex assay, 2 were detected positive by polymerase chain reaction. In conclusion, Quantiplex assay was more sensitive than Abbott HBV DNA assay and dot-blot hybridization assay for quantitative measurement of serum HBV DNA and can be used in the evaluation of the therapeutic drug effect on chronic hepatitis B patients.

• Authors: S J Hwang, S D Lee, R H Lu, C Y Chan, L Lai, R L Co, M J Tong
• Journal: Journal of virological methods (J Virol Methods) Vol. 62 Issue 2 Pg. 123-9 (Dec 1996) ISSN: 0166-0934 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 9002070 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• DNA, Viral
• Ribavirin
• Alanine Transaminase

Topics

• Alanine Transaminase (analysis)
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• DNA, Viral (genetics, isolation & purification)
• Drug Monitoring (methods)
• Hepatitis B (blood, drug therapy, genetics)
• Hepatitis B virus (genetics)
• Humans
• Nucleic Acid Hybridization (methods)
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Regression Analysis
• Ribavirin (therapeutic use)
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Viral Load