Comparison of Hybrid Capture 2 Assay with Real-time-PCR
for Detection and Quantitation of Hepatitis B Virus DNA
Farjana Majid, Munira Jahan, Ahmed Lutful Moben, Shahina Tabassum
Citation Information :
Majid F, Jahan M, Lutful Moben A, Tabassum S. Comparison of Hybrid Capture 2 Assay with Real-time-PCR for Detection and Quantitation of Hepatitis B Virus DNA. Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol 2014; 4 (1):31-35.
Background: Both real-time-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and hybrid capture 2 (HC2) assay can
detect and quantify hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA. However, real-time-PCR can detect a wide range of
HBV DNA, while HC2 assay could not detect lower levels of viremia. The present study was designed
to detect and quantify HBV DNA by real-time-PCR and HC2 assay and compare the quantitative data
of these two assays.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in between July 2010 and June 2011.
A total of 66 serologically diagnosed chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients were selected for the study.
Real-time-PCR and HC2 assay was done to detect HBV DNA. Data were analyzed by statistical
Package for the social sciences (SPSS).
Results: Among 66 serologically diagnosed chronic hepatitis B patients 40 (60.61%) patients had
detectable and 26 (39.39%) had undetectable HBV DNA by HC2 assay. Concordant results were
obtained for 40 (60.61%) out of these 66 patients by real-time-PCR and HC2 assay with mean viral
load of 7.06 ± 1.13 log10 copies/ml and 6.95 ± 1.08 log10 copies/ml, respectively. In the remaining 26
patients, HBV DNA was detectable by real-time-PCR in 20 patients (mean HBV DNA level was 3.67 ±
0.72 log10 copies/ml. However, HBV DNA could not be detectable in six cases by the both assays. The
study showed strong correlation (r = 0.915) between real-time-PCR and HC2 assay for the detection
and quantification of HBV DNA.
Conclusion: HC2 assay may be used as an alternative to real-time-PCR for CHB patients.
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