Author/Editor     Marin, Irena
Title     Metode za določanje virusnega bremena in njihov pomen v diagnostiki ter spremljanju poteka in zdravljenja hepatitisa B
Translated title     Methods for the measurement of hepatitis B virus DNA loads and their value in diagnostics and monitoring of antiviral treatment of hepatitis B
Type     monografija
Place     Ljubljana
Publisher     Medicinska fakulteta
Publication year     2003
Volume     str. 761
Language     slo
Abstract     Quantitative detection of hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV DNA) in serum samples or viral load is the method of choice for monitoring the efficiency of antiviral treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B in most developed countries. This doctoral thesis presents the results of the studies in the field of quantitative detection of HBV DNA of our research group.In the first studies, which we performed from 1998 to 2000, we focused on the selection of the most appropriate method for measuring of viral load and the most appropriate strategy of testing by the selected method. In a comparative evaluation of three first-generation commercial assays for quantitative measurement of HBV DNA in serum samples, i.e.: Hybrid Capture I HBV DNA Assay (Digene Laboratories, Silver Spring, ZDA), Quantiplex HBV DNA Assay (Bayer, Emeryville, ZDA) and Amplicor HBV Monitor Test (Roche Molecular Systems, Branchburg, USA), we found that Amplicor HBV Monitor Test is the most appropriate firstgeneration method for measuring of HBV DNA concentration in serum samples. Since Amplicor HBV Monitor Test is a manual test, the company of Roche Molecular Systems later adapted the test for automated processing that has been introduced on market as Cobas Amplicor HBV Monitor Test. The results of comparative evaluation of Amplicor HBV Monitor Test and Cobas Amplicor H BV Monitor Test i ndicate that a semiautomated method could replace the manual method in routine detection of HBV DNA. In the prospective study on 640 serum samples, we developed the most economically effective strategy of HBV DNA quantification by Cobas Amplicor H BV Monitor Test. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters)
Descriptors     HEPATITIS B
HEPATITIS B VIRUS
DNA, VIRAL
VIRAL LOAD
HEPATITIS B E ANTIGENS
TREATMENT OUTCOME
HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGENS
HEPATITIS B ANTIBODIES
LAMIVUDINE
INTERFERON-ALPHA