Use of PCR in resolving diagnostic difficulties potentially caused by genetic variation of hepatitis B virus.
J Clin Pathol
; 51(2): 149-53, 1998 Feb.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9602690
ABSTRACT
AIMS:
To assess the relevance of genetic variants of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and to demonstrate the usefulness of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in cases of HBV diagnostic difficulty.METHODS:
Five serum samples from patients that presented diagnostic difficulty in routine laboratories were sent to a research laboratory for PCR, and if appropriate, S gene sequencing, in vitro expression, and antigenic analysis.RESULTS:
The demonstration of HBV in serum by PCR allowed a definitive diagnosis of current infection. One serum sample with poor reactivity in a diagnostic assay had a minor hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) variant and another with very poor reactivity had multiple variants of HBsAg. Transient HBsAg reactivity was observed in a recently vaccinated patient. A hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) false positive reaction was noted in a patient from a well defined risk group for HBV. One patient who was strongly HBsAg/HBeAg positive, but anti-hepatitis B core antibody negative, was viraemic.CONCLUSIONS:
PCR may become the gold standard for the diagnosis of current HBV infection. HBV variants are responsible for a proportion of diagnostically difficult cases. Modification of commercial assays is necessary to increase the sensitivity of detection of such variants.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Vírus da Hepatite B
/
Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase
/
Hepatite B
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Clin Pathol
Ano de publicação:
1998
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Reino Unido