HBV DNA Quantitative Real Time PCR

What is HBV Quant.?
Hepatitis B Virus – Viral Load, Quantitative test asseses the level of viral infection in the body. It measures the amount of viral DNA in the blood during the infection. Generally, this test is recommended to check the efficacy of hepatitis B treatment. Hepatitis B virus spreads mainly through body fluids or unsafe sexual intercourse.Mostly the symptoms of infection fade on their own after 4-8 weeks. However, in some cases, uncontrolled levels of HepB viral load can lead to chronic hepatitis infection and liver cirrhosis.

Why is HBV Quant. done?
The Hepatitis B Virus – Viral Load, Quantitative test is done:

For the management of patients with chronic hepatitis B infection and currently on antiviral therapy

For the diagnosis of hepatitis B for baseline values and during the course of therapy to assess the response of treatment.

What does HBV Quant. Measure?
The Hepatitis B Virus – Viral Load, Quantitative test measures the actual amount of hepatitis B present in a blood sample. This test helps determine whether Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is getting reproduced in the liver. If HBV viral load is greater than 20,000 international units per milliliter (IU/mL) in a person with detectable Hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) then it indicates that the virus is active and has the greatest potential to cause damage to the liver. Similarly, if HBV viral load is greater than 2,000 IU/mL in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients then it indicates that the virus is active and has the potential to cause damage to the liver. If the HBV viral load is above these numbers, treatment is considered necessary.