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Multicenter evaluation of a semiautomated, standardized assay for detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in blood donations.

Romanò L, Velati C, Baruffi L, Fomiatti L, Colucci G, Zanetti AR,

Institute of Virology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.

We evaluated the COBAS Ampliscreen hepatitis B virus (HBV) test using standards, seroconversion panels, consecutive donations, and samples from patients with abnormal alanine aminotransferase and chronic hepatitis C. Specificity was 100% and sensitivity was 20 IU/ml. In seroconversion panels, HBV DNA was detected up to 4 to 18 days before HBsAg, suggesting that this assay is useful in shortening the infectious window phase.

Published 15 June 2005 in J Clin Microbiol, 43(6): 2991-3.
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