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Evaluation of the Abbott RealTime HBV DNA Assay and Comparison to the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan 48 Assay in Monitoring Patients with Chronic Cases of Hepatitis B

Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Virology, University Hospital Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81-00133 Rome, Italy,¹ IRCCS IFO-San Gallicano Institute, Rome, Italy²

Received 19 October 2007/ Returned for modification 25 January 2008/ Accepted 1 February 2008

The new Abbott RealTime hepatitis B virus (HBV) assay was compared to the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan assay with 128 serum samples from patients with chronic hepatitis B. There was an excellent correlation (r = 0.961) between the two assays, with the Abbott RealTime test showing at least equivalent sensitivity and a slightly wider dynamic range than the Cobas TaqMan assay. By coupling high sensitivity with a large dynamic range, the Abbott RealTime HBV assay is useful in monitoring the response to antiviral therapy.

Published ahead of print on 13 February 2008.