ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the multiplex nucleic acid testing (NAT) assays for HBV,HCV and HIV in detecting HBV DNA in plasma samples. Methods 534 plasma samples collected form several areas were detected with Abbott Architect i2000 HBsAg, ani-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe, anti-HBc and anti-HBc IgM diagnostic kits. HBV DNA levels of those samples were detected with Roche COBAS AmpliPrep/ COBAS TaqMan HBV Test. Two kinds of multiplex NAT assays for HBV, HCV and HIV were used to test HBV DNA of those 534 samples. Results of serology-markers and quantitative HBV DNA levels with results of NAT were compared. Results HBV DNA was positive in all 81 HBsAg, HBeAg and anti-HBc positive samples,detected by both of NAT assays. HBV DNA was positive in 11 and 19 of 200 HBsAg negative samples when detected with the two kinds of NAT assays separately. Compared with the quantitative results detected by Roche COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HBV Test, the HBV DNA positive rates were 96.9% and 94.3% in 193 samples of HBV DNA levels over 500 IU/ml while 40.2% and 45.3% in 117 samples of HBV DNA levels below 500 IU/ml while 99.3% and 96.0% in 151 samples of DNA negative HBV. Conclusion There are some occult low level HBV DNA carriers with HBsAg negative results in China. NAT assays for HBV, HCV and HIV may be useful to improve the transfusion safety.