Evaluation of inhouse HBV DMA PCR, and its comparison with amplicor HBV PCR [Roche] and quantiplex HBV bDNA [Chiron] in detection of hepatitis b virus infection

To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of inhouse HBV DNA PCR detected either by ELISA or agarose gel electrophoresis techniques this study was designed. 60 patients having either HbsAg antigen or HBc IgG or both were selected from the outpatients medical clinic and inpatient medical section of the National liver institute, Minoufiya University. Inhouse HBV DNA PCR detected either by ELISA or agarose gel electrophoresis techniques were done for those patients, and the results were expressed in comparison with the results of Amplicor HBV PCR [Roche], and quantiplex HBV bDNA [Chiron]. Out of sixty patients who were serologically positive for either HbsAg, anti- HBc IgG or both, the inhouse HBV DNA PCR detected by ELISA was positive in 11 patients [18.33%], while inhouse HBV DNA PCR detected by EB and gel electrophoresis was positive in 9 patients [15%], also, quantiplex HBV bDNA [Chiron] was positive in 8 [17.78%] out of 45 patients only and amplicor HBV DNA PCR [Roche] was positive in 28 [46.67%] out of 60 patients. Also, the study revealed that the sensitivity of inhouse HBV DNA PCR detected by ELISA was 39.28%, with 100% specificity and 71.67% diagnostic accuracy, while inhouse HBV DNA PCR detected by agarose gel electrophoresis after ethidium bromide staining showed 32.14% sensitivity, 100% specificity and 68.33% diagnostic accuracy also, Also, quantiplex HBV bDNA [Chiron] showed 28.57% sensitivity, 91.66% specificity and 62.22% diagnostic accuracy when compared with the positive results obtained with amplicor HBV PCR [Roche]. So, due to its low sensitivity in comparison with amplicor HBV DNA PCR [Roche] we can not rely on inhouse PCR detected either by ELISA or agarose gel electrophoresis after ethidium bromide staining in diagnosis of HBV infection, further optimization of inhouse PCR is recommended for good yield and better diagnosis