Hepatitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Hepatitis, including details on hepatitis a, b, c, causes, symptoms.

Evaluation of the Abbott RealTime HBV DNA assay and comparison to the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan 48 assay in monitoring patients with chronic cases of hepatitis B.

Ciotti M, Marcuccilli F, Guenci T, Prignano MG, Perno CF

Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Virology, University Hospital Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81-00133 Rome, Italy. marco.ciotti@ptvonline.it

The new Abbott RealTime hepatitis B virus (HBV) assay was compared to the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan assay with 128 serum samples from patients with chronic hepatitis B. There was an excellent correlation (r = 0.961) between the two assays, with the Abbott RealTime test showing at least equivalent sensitivity and a slightly wider dynamic range than the Cobas TaqMan assay. By coupling high sensitivity with a large dynamic range, the Abbott RealTime HBV assay is useful in monitoring the response to antiviral therapy.

Published 4 April 2008 in J Clin Microbiol, 46(4): 1517-9.
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