Eurofins Biomnis code

ADNBQ

Synonyms

• HBV - quantitative determination - viral load
• VIREMIE HBV

Specialty

Infectious

Clinical significance

The sensitivity threshold of conventional, hybridization-based HBV DNA detection methods is 105 copies which was hitherto considered adequate for monitoring both the progress of chronic hepatitis B caused by wild type virus and its treatment with interferon. However, when replication is very slow, this sensitivity is now known to be inadequate and this more sensitive PCR assay is useful. This applies to: 1/ hepatitis due to a mutant virus (in particular, HBe-negative strains and those with deletion of the core protein-encoding region); 2/ when new, more powerful antiviral drugs are being used (e.g. Lamivudin); 3/ if replication is very slow (e.g. in long established infections).In quantitative terms, the result of the assay reflects the infectiousness of the patient's blood and the efficacy of the inhibition of viral replication.

Preanalytics

• 2.5 mL :
• Serum or Heparin plasma
•   FROZEN
• Freezing within 4 hours

• A tube specifically for this analysis : Yes

Further information

1 individual aliquot for this analysis.

Methodology

Real Time TMA

Turnaround time

1 day