Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2025
Stem Cell-Derived Viral Ag-Specific T Lymphocytes Suppress HBV Replication in Mice
Published on: September 25, 2019
Control of occult hepatitis B virus infection
Marta Lalana Garcés1,2, Oihana Ortiz Pastor1,3, Gemma Solé Enrech1,4
1Comisión de Valoración Bioquímica de la Enfermedad Hepática, Sociedad Española de Medicina de Laboratorio (SEQC-ML), Barcelona, Spain.
Insights
Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is a form of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection that requires specific diagnostic approaches beyond standard HBsAg testing. Early detection and screening for OBI in at-risk individuals are crucial for preventing HBV reactivation and transmission.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Standard hepatitis B virus (HBV) diagnosis involves HBV DNA testing and serological markers like HBsAg and anti-HBc.
- Occult HBV infection (OBI) presents a diagnostic challenge as it is not detected by conventional HBsAg or blood HBV DNA quantification, despite active liver replication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define occult HBV infection (OBI).
- To outline current diagnostic techniques for OBI.
- To emphasize the importance of screening patients with risk factors for OBI.
Main Methods:
- Review of diagnostic techniques for OBI.
- Identification of risk factors associated with OBI.
- Discussion of current and potential diagnostic markers for OBI.
Main Results:
- OBI diagnosis relies on detecting HBV DNA in individuals with undetectable HBsAg in blood.
- A significant number of OBI cases may go undiagnosed without targeted screening.
- New markers like ultrasensitive HBsAg and cccDNA are proposed for improved OBI diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Accurate diagnosis of OBI is vital to prevent HBV reactivation and transmission.
- Screening for OBI in at-risk populations is essential due to potential underdiagnosis.
- Advancements in diagnostic markers are needed for comprehensive OBI detection.
Background:
The diagnosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection requires HBV DNA testing and serologic testing for detection of the surface antigen (HBsAg) and the hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc). There is a population of patients with occult HBV infection (OBI), which is not detected by HBsAg or HBV DNA quantification in blood, despite the presence of active replication in the liver.
Scope:
This document provides a definition of OBI and describes the diagnostic techniques currently used. It also addresses the detection of patients with risk factors and the need for screening for OBI in these patients.
Summary:
Correct diagnosis of OBI prevents HBV reactivation and transmission. Diagnosis of OBI is based on the detection of HBV DNA in patients with undetectable HBsAg in blood.
Perspectives:
A high number of patients with OBI may remain undiagnosed; therefore, screening for OBI in patients with factor risks is essential. For a correct diagnosis of OBI, it is necessary that new markers such as ultrasensitive HBsAg are incorporated, and a more comprehensive marker study is performed by including markers such as cccDNA.
