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Updated: Apr 28, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancements and Challenges in Hepatitis B Virus Detection
Published on: December 15, 2023
Mini review: current molecular methods for the detection and quantification of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus,
Guilherme Albertoni1, Manoel João Batista Castelo Girão2, Nestor Schor3
1Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Department of Medicine, Nephrology Division, Rua Botucatu 740, São Paulo, 04023-900, SP, Brazil; Colsan (Associação Beneficente de Coleta de Sangue), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Abstract:
The detection of acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is vital for controlling the spread of HIV, HBV, and HCV to uninfected individuals. Considering that these viruses have high replication rates and are undetectable by serological markers, early detection upon transmission is crucial. Various nucleic acid assays have been developed for diagnostics and therapeutic monitoring of infections. In the past decade, rapid and sensitive molecular techniques such as PCR have revolutionized the detection of a variety of infectious viruses, including HIV, HCV, and HBV. Here, we describe two of the most commonly used licensed methods for the detection and quantification of HIV, HCV, and HBV: the cobas TaqScreen MPX (PCR) test and the Tigris System. We used transcription-mediated amplification to review and compare the development and efficiency of these technologies.
