Quantitative Test of Serum Hepatitis B Surface Antigen versus Hepatitis B DNA Polymerase Chain Reaction in Detection of Hepatitis B in Yazd

Abstract

Background:

Hepatitis B DNA polymerase chain reaction (HBV-DNA PCR) is a test that is used in the evaluation and treatment of hepatitis B but this test is pretty expensive and may not be available everywhere.  Quantitative test of serum hepatitis B surface antigen may be a surrogate test, which is available with much low price. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of these two tests.

Materials and Methods:

Patients with positive HBsAg who referred to Boali laboratory in Yazd, Iran for HBV DNA test in 2012 -2014 were selected and divided into three groups as inactive carriers, those at the beginning of treatment, and those on treatment (30 patients in each group). HBV DNA PCR was performed with real-time PCR method with sensivity of 150 IU/mL.  HBsAg and HBeAg levels were measured by electrochemiolance. The level more than 0.05/mL was considered positive for HBsAg.

Results:

Serum hepatitis B surface antigen quantitative level was significantly different between group one and group two, and also between group one and group three (p=0.001) but it was not different between group two and three (p=0.7).

Serum HBV quantitative level and HBV DNA had a positive relation (p=0.001, R=0.527).

There was a relation between HBsAg and viral load in group one (p=0.017, R=0.431) and group two (p=0.023, R=0.427) but there was not such a correlation in group three (p=0.27, R=0.22).

Conclusion:

HBsAg quantitative measurement may be a surrogate test for evaluation of patients with hepatitis B because it is simpler and economic.