Preferred Specimen(s) 2 mL plasma collected in a PPT-Potassium EDTA (white-top) tube.
Instructions: EDTA plasma: Separate plasma within 6 hours of collection, transfer plasma to a sterile, screw-capped plastic aliquot tube. Freeze immediately at -20° C. Ship frozen.
Transport Container Plastic screw-cap vial
Transport Temperature
- Refrigerated 7 days,
- Frozen 35 days
Reject Criteria
- Received room temperature
- SST® (red-top/glass)
- Unspun PPT tube
Methodology Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
Clinical Significance Chronic carriers will persist in producing detectable HBV. Patients with chronic liver disease of unknown origin most commonly have HBV that is detected by viral DNA testing. Quantitative measurement of HBV viral DNA may be used to monitor progression of disease.