DETECTION OF HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGEN USING ELISA AND REAL TIME PCR

Abstract

India has one of the largest pools of hepatitis B-infected patients. The presence of HBs Ag in serum or plasma is an indication of active Hepatitis B infection either acute or chronic. Quantitative detection of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in serum by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay emerged as a gold standard in guided anti viral therapy. Evidences are suggestive of association of HBV genotype in liver dysfunction. We evaluated the performance as well as usefulness of both ELISA and PCR for detection of the major blood borne pathogen, HBV in southern India. First ALT and AST enzymes level was determined to check liver function. Serum of patients with chronic hepatitis B (HBsAg positive) and healthy individuals were tested both quantitatively and qualitatively. 4.5% of participants were HBsAg Positive by ELISA, while 7.5% of participants showed HBV DNA in real time PCR.