The detection of occult HBV infection in patients with HBsAg negative pattern by real-time PCR method

Abstract

Aim: Diagnostic problems may be encountered in Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections by serological tests and HBV DNA can be detectable in plasma and liver tissue while the HBsAg test is negative. This situation can be defined as occult or isolated Anti-HBc infections. Occult HBV infections may be divided into two categories by using hepatitis markers. One of them being that all hepatitis markers are negative and the other situation is having Anti-HBc +/- and Anti-HBs + patterns. These situations can be seen in isolated Anti-HBc cases.