Hepatitis B genotyping/viral load/drug resistance
About Hepatitis B genotyping
Hepatitis B is a serious infection that affects the liver. It is caused by the HBV virus. It is usually a short-term acute infection that lasts less than 6 months in most people. However, a few people may develop a chronic hepatitis B infection, which can lead to liver failure, liver cancer, and in some cases, cirrhosis (permanent scars on the liver).
The hepatitis B genotyping and viral drug resistance test is used for detecting mutations in the Hepatitis B virus. These mutations may result in resistance to antiviral drugs such as telbivudine, lamivudine, entecavir, adefovir, and tenofovir.
Causes of HBV infection
The HBV infection is caused due to various reasons. Some of these include:
- Unprotected sex
- Sharing of needles
- Hereditary (from mother to child)
Symptoms of HBV infection
Common symptoms of hepatitis B infection include:
Abdominal pain
Dark coloured urine
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Jaundice (mostly yellowing of skin and white of the eye)
Fatigue
Fever
Who should get tested for HBV genotyping and viral drug resistance?
Individuals at higher risk are usually recommended this test, this includes:
People who have been diagnosed with HBV infection
People who have been diagnosed with and treated for HBV infection for three to six months
People who have been diagnosed with HBV infection and have developed resistance to their antiviral therapy
Routine monitoring of HBV infected persons
Test preparation
No special preparation is required for HBV genotyping and viral drug resistance test.
Interpretation of results
Positive test results
Positive test results for HBV genotyping and Viral drug resistance tests indicate that the hepatitis virus is multiplying inside the individual’s body and that the individual is contagious.
Negative test results
Negative test results indicate that there is no sign of HBV infection in an individual’s body.
However, the results are also given as negative if:
- HBV load is <5000 copies per mL and,
- Presence of HBV sequence divergence that prevents its amplification
FAQs
What is the turnaround time (TAT) for HBV genotyping and viral drug resistance test?
It may take about 7-10 working days to get the results of HBV genotyping and viral drug resistance test.
Are there any potential risks to HBV genotyping and viral load drug resistance test?
There are no known risks associated with HBV genotyping and viral load drug resistance testing. However, you may experience minor pain at the site of sample withdrawal, which should subside in a few minutes to hours.
What is meant by HBV viral drug resistance?
HBV viral drug resistance refers to adaptive mutations within the HBV genome that decrease the virus's susceptibility to the inhibitory effects of antiviral drugs, which means the virus has developed resistance to the given treatment for an individual.
What are the limitations of HBV genotyping and viral drug resistance test?
The HBV genotyping and viral drug resistance test has the following limitations,
- This test does not detect hepatitis B infection, if the viral load count is <500 IU/mL
- The presence of HBV sequence divergence, which prevents amplification (multiplication of virus).
How can I reduce my risk of hepatitis B infection?
Vaccination is the most effective way to avoid hepatitis B infection. It takes about six months to fully immunise against HBV (three doses of vaccines). You can also reduce the risk by:
- Having protected sex
- Not sharing personal items
- Avoiding places where hepatitis is common
- Taking treatment as a preventative measure
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