Hepatitis B virus DNA, Plasma

Diagnostic Use

Hepatitis B is one of the world’s most common infectious diseases. About 350 million people have the virus. Every year between 500,000 to one million people die of HBV-related chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis or liver cancer. Almost 94,000 people have hepatitis B in New Zealand.

Screening for Hepatitis B virus is routinely performed by testing for serologic markers (hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis core antigen, hepatitis B surface antibody). Nucleic acid tests for HBV DNA are used as an aid in the management of patients with chronic HBV infection undergoing anti-viral therapy and to measure HBV DNA levels at baseline and during treatment to aid in
assessing response to treatment.

Department

Microbiology - Virology

Delphic Registration Code

DHBV

Laboratory Handling

Phlebotomy

Dedicated EDTA tubes required, minimum 4mL whole blood

Separating

Please refer to separating guide in Additional Information section below

Laboratory

If sample arrives frozen, please ensure it does not thaw.

Test Adds

Add-on requests for Viral load testing are only able to be performed if other plasma viral loads have been requested as dedicated sterile samples are required. Viral loads cannot be added to samples previously processed for CBC testing. Please call virology on ext 80356 to discuss.

Synonyms

HBV DNA
HBV viral load

Turnaround Time

5 days

Test Code

2740

Specimen Type

• Plasma

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• EDTA (Lavender Cap)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

4.0

No of Samples Required

2

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• EDTA (Lavender Cap)

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

1.5

Pre-testing Requirements

Please refer to separating guidelines in the Additional Information section below.

Additional Specimen Information

After testing is complete samples are stored frozen for 6 months. If required, viral resistance genotyping (YMDD mutation analysis) can be added on to a HBV viral load sample if the VL is greater than 1000 IU/mL and sufficient sample volume remains.

Aliquot Instructions

Sample Type

• Plasma

Transport to Lab

Frozen
If overnight - Chilled (2 - 8 degrees Celsius)

Additional Referral/Aliquot Information

Please note: Plasma must be separated within 24 hours of collection and stored chilled at 2-8 degrees or frozen at -70 degrees.
If testing will not be performed within 72 hours of separating, sample must be frozen.

Reference Intervals

Results are reported as International Units (IU)/mL

Test Method

Detection and quantitation of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in human plasma (PCR) : Abbott Alinity m platform.

Non-Funded Test Cost

$301.46 (Exclusive of GST)

Billing Code

2740

The HBV assay is quantitative and provides a measure of the level of HBV replication. It is especially useful in patients with pre-core mutation who may not have detectable HBeAg.

Test Availability - Turnaround times are based on longest expected results received end of week and tested following week. Expect samples received M-Th to have 48 hr turnaround. Testing is performed on Abbott Alinity M platform.

Resources

• Viral Load collection and separation guidelines (198 KB)

Contact Information

Enquiry Form