Evaluation of accuracy of hepatitis B virus antigen and antibody detection and relationship between epidemiological factors using dried blood spot.

Dried blood spots (DBS) testing might increase the access for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) diagnosis, but little is known about the performance of these assays in real life conditions. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HBs detection in DBS in clinical settings and field studies and to evaluate demographic and risk behaviour according the presence of HBsAg and anti-HBc. Paired sera and DBS samples were obtained from 2309 individuals from 3 groups, defined as follows: G1: clinical setting (n = 5-19), G2: general population (n = 1305) and G3: vulnerable individuals that could be more exposed to blood contact (n = 485).

Utility of oral fluid samples for hepatitis B antibody detection in real life conditions.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) testing in oral fluid samples may provide advantages in diagnosis, screening or prevalence studies, especially among individuals with venous access difficulties. This study aims to optimize one commercially available assay for detecting total anti-HBc marker in oral fluid samples and to evaluate its utility under real life conditions in different settings for the purposes of prevalence and diagnostic studies.

Methods: Oral fluid was collected using a Salivette device and some parameters were initially evaluated: type of elution buffer and sample volume.

Evaluating HBsAg rapid test performance for different biological samples from low and high infection rate settings & populations.

Background: Rapid tests (RTs) might have several advantages over standard laboratory procedures, increasing access to diagnosis, especially among vulnerable populations and/or those living in remote areas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of RTs for the detection of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) in samples from different populations/settings.

Methods: Three RTs for HBsAg detection (Vikia® HBsAg, HBsAg Teste Rápido®, and Imuno-Rápido HBsAg®) and different biological specimens (serum, whole blood, and saliva) were evaluated.

Knowledge and prevalence of viral hepatitis among beauticians.

Beauty treatments, such as tattooing, piercing, manicures, pedicures, and barbershop shaving, can pose an important risk of virus transmission. This study was conducted to determine hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence in a sample of beauticians from Rio de Janeiro (Southeast Brazil) and to assess the knowledge and attitudes of these professionals regarding viral hepatitis and their practices during their activities. One hundred nineteen beauticians were recruited in September 2010.

Evaluation of saliva specimens as an alternative sampling method to detect hepatitis B surface antigen.

In this study, a modified enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was evaluated for the Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among whole saliva and oral fluid samples. Specimens were collected from 115 individuals who gave serum and oral fluid using Salivette (Sarstedt, Nümbrecht, Germany) and whole saliva. Saliva specimens were tested following a modified ELISA, and the results were compared with paired serum specimens that were tested according to the supplier's instructions.

Risk factors for hepatitis B virus infection in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Background: Despite international efforts to prevent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection through global vaccination programs, new cases are still being reported throughout the world.

Methods: To supply data that might assist in improving preventive measures and national surveillance for HBV infection, a cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals referred to the Brazilian National Reference Center for Viral Hepatitis (Rio de Janeiro) during a two-year period. Reported risk factors among infected subjects ("HBV-positive") were compared to those of subjects never exposed ("HBV-negative") to HBV.