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Hepatitis B Quantitative PCR (Viral Load)

Microbiology


Usage

Use for determination of active ongoing HBV infection, monitoring of longer term disease progression and response to antiviral therapies.

Specimen

Blood sample (plasma)

Specimen container

Pink top EDTA (6ml)

Special Instructions

Samples from patients known to have blood transmissible viral infections should be clearly labelled “High Risk” or “Danger of Infection”.

Please state if patient is on antiviral treatment.

If this is post needlestick monitoring following injury from a known HBV +ve donor, send a sample within 48 hours of injury. Include details of the incident, i.e. date, and name/hospital number of the donor (with their consent).

Availability

Local test

Turnaround Time

8 days

Reporting

Viral loads will be reported in IU/ml and where appropriate a log will be given.

Lower limit of detection 10 IU/ml

Lower limit of quantification 10 IU/ml

Reference

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hepatitis-b-guidance-data-and-analysis

(Key words: HepB)

Specimen Labelling Procedure
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9018

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