UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Ultrasensitive PCR system for HBV DNA detection: Risk stratification for occult hepatitis B virus infection in English blood donors

Fu, MX; Simmonds, P; Andreani, J; Baklan, H; Webster, M; Asadi, R; Golubchik, T; ... Harvala, H; + view all (2023) Ultrasensitive PCR system for HBV DNA detection: Risk stratification for occult hepatitis B virus infection in English blood donors. Journal of Medical Virology , 95 (10) , Article e29144. 10.1002/jmv.29144. Green open access

[thumbnail of Ultrasensitive PCR system for HBV DNA detection.pdf]
Preview
PDF
Ultrasensitive PCR system for HBV DNA detection.pdf - Published Version

Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

Occult hepatitis B (HBV) infection (OBI), characterized by low viral loads, accounts for much of the risk of HBV transfusion-transmitted infection. With anticore antibodies (anti-HBc) screening introduced in England, the imperative to identify OBI donors has increased. We aimed to develop an ultra-sensitive PCR system and investigate risk factors for HBV DNA presence in blood donations. Seven extraction methods and three PCR assays were compared. The optimal system was sought to determine HBV DNA presence in anti-HBc-positive donations. Predictors of DNA positivity were subsequently investigated. Extraction from 5 mL of plasma increased sample representation and resulted in HBV DNA detection in low viral load samples (~0.5 IU/mL). Screening of 487 763 donations in 2022 identified two OBI donors and 2042 anti-HBc-positive donors, 412 of the latter with anti-HBs < 100 mIU/mL. Testing of 134 anti-HBc-positive donations utilizing the 5 mL extraction method identified two further HBV DNA-positive donations. Higher anti-HBc titer and anti-HBs negativity were significant predictors of DNA detectability in anti-HBc-positive donations. An ultrasensitive PCR assay identified potentially infectious donations increasing HBV DNA detection in anti-HBc-positive donors from 0.5% to 1.9%. Anti-HBc titers may further complement the risk stratification for DNA positivity in anti-HBc screening and minimize unnecessary donor deferral.

Type: Article
Title: Ultrasensitive PCR system for HBV DNA detection: Risk stratification for occult hepatitis B virus infection in English blood donors
Location: United States
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29144
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.29144
Language: English
Additional information: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The images or other third-party material in this article are included in the Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to reproduce the material. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Keywords: HBV-ID-NAT, anti-HBc screening, hepatitis B virus, occult HBV infection, predictive markers
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health > Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Dept
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10179611
Downloads since deposit
8Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item