Introduction of an automated system for the diagnosis and quantification of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Clinical Diagnostics
• Public Health

Background:

• Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are global health concerns requiring routine laboratory screening.
• Serological and molecular markers are crucial for diagnosing, predicting prognosis, and monitoring treatment of HBV and HCV infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review available serological and molecular marker methods for HBV and HCV.
• To discuss the utility and limitations of these methods in the diagnosis and monitoring of Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB).

Main Methods:

• Discussion of automated chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) analyzers for virological diagnosis.
• Overview of molecular biology techniques including real-time PCR for viral genome detection, quantification, genotyping, and resistance analysis.
• Mention of next-generation DNA sequencing techniques, currently limited to research settings.

Main Results:

• Automated CLIA analyzers are prevalent in high-volume labs for virological diagnosis.
• Real-time PCR is increasingly replacing other amplification technologies for nucleic acid detection and quantification due to its sensitivity and dynamic range.
• Next-generation sequencing is primarily used in research.

Conclusions:

• Various serological and molecular methods are available for HBV and HCV diagnosis and monitoring.
• Understanding the utility and limitations of each method is essential for effective Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) management.