Importance of Hepatitis B viral load to trigger and monitor antiviral treatment for chronic HBV infection.

Globally, the hepatitis B virus is a major cause of mortality from infectious diseases. Around 250 million people suffer from chronic HBV infections, with the virus being responsible for over one million deaths annually worldwide. West and Central Africa have high (>8%) or intermediate prevalence of HBV (2% - 8%).

 

HBV DNA quantification is crucial for managing chronic HBV infections. The World Health Organization recommends measuring HBV DNA in plasma to determine the need for antiviral treatment in adults. Those who test negative for HBeAg and have plasma DNA concentrations higher than 20,000 IU/ml require antiviral therapy, while those without cirrhosis and with HBV DNA levels below 2,000 IU/ml and normal ALT typically do not need treatment. For preventing mother-to-child transmission of HBV, the risk of immunoprophylaxis failure is low when maternal viral load is below 200,000 IU/mL.

 

However, access to HBV molecular tests is limited in West and Central African countries due to insufficient equipment and relatively high costs in relation to the financial resources of the populations of Sub-Saharan Africa. This hinders the implementation of treatments and prevention of new infections. To address this issue, high-throughput HBV DNA assays that are cost-effective can be used, such as the regulatory approved PCR assay, GENERIC HBV, which can be performed on different molecular platforms.

 

In summary, HBV DNA quantification is essential in managing and preventing the spread of HBV infections, and guiding treatment decisions. The use of the GENERIC HBV assay can expand clinical laboratory solutions for HBV care and surveillance, particularly in regions with limited access to molecular testing.

 

Learning Objectives