Stability of hepatitis B surface antigen over time: Implications for studies using stored sera

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J Med Virol. 2011 Nov;83(11):1900-4. doi: 10.1002/jmv.22171.

Stability of hepatitis B surface antigen over time: Implications for studies

using stored sera.

Fung J, Lai CL, Young J, Wong DK, Yuen J, Seto WK, Yuen MF.

Source

Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Hospital, Hong

Kong SAR, China.

Abstract

In chronic hepatitis B, quantitative measurements of hepatitis B surface antigen

(HBsAg) have been studied increasingly using stored sera to determine its

usefulness in disease management. However, the stability of stored HBsAg levels

has not been established. The current study determines prospectively the

stability of HBsAg levels in sera stored for 1 year. Fresh sera from 105 samples

were divided into 5 aliquots. The first aliquot was used to determine HBsAg at

the time of blood sampling. The remaining four aliquots were stored at -20°C

and thawed at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months to determine the HBsAg levels. HBsAg was

measured by adopting the research protocol using the Elecsys HBsAg II assay. At

baseline, age and HBV DNA showed a significant correlation with HBsAg levels

(r = -0.291, P = 0.003 and r = 0.256, P = 0.003, respectively).

There was no overall significant difference observed between the HBsAg levels

measured at the different time points. There was high correlation between each

consecutive time points from baseline to 3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, and

9-12 months (r = 0.991, 0.987, 0.989, 0.993, respectively, all

P < 0.001). The overall log difference in HBsAg levels between baseline and

at 12 months was 0.03 (range, -0.29 to 0.85), with over 99% of samples showing

no significant change (defined as >1 log) after 12 months. In conclusion,

HBsAg levels remained stable in stored frozen sera for 12 months without

significant changes, and could be used to quantify HBsAg accurately.

J. Med. Virol. 83:1900-1904, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 21915863 [PubMed - in process]

[Guest guest]

J Med Virol. 2011 Nov;83(11):1900-4. doi: 10.1002/jmv.22171.

Stability of hepatitis B surface antigen over time: Implications for studies

using stored sera.

Fung J, Lai CL, Young J, Wong DK, Yuen J, Seto WK, Yuen MF.

Source

Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Hospital, Hong

Kong SAR, China.

Abstract

In chronic hepatitis B, quantitative measurements of hepatitis B surface antigen

(HBsAg) have been studied increasingly using stored sera to determine its

usefulness in disease management. However, the stability of stored HBsAg levels

has not been established. The current study determines prospectively the

stability of HBsAg levels in sera stored for 1 year. Fresh sera from 105 samples

were divided into 5 aliquots. The first aliquot was used to determine HBsAg at

the time of blood sampling. The remaining four aliquots were stored at -20°C

and thawed at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months to determine the HBsAg levels. HBsAg was

measured by adopting the research protocol using the Elecsys HBsAg II assay. At

baseline, age and HBV DNA showed a significant correlation with HBsAg levels

(r = -0.291, P = 0.003 and r = 0.256, P = 0.003, respectively).

There was no overall significant difference observed between the HBsAg levels

measured at the different time points. There was high correlation between each

consecutive time points from baseline to 3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, and

9-12 months (r = 0.991, 0.987, 0.989, 0.993, respectively, all

P < 0.001). The overall log difference in HBsAg levels between baseline and

at 12 months was 0.03 (range, -0.29 to 0.85), with over 99% of samples showing

no significant change (defined as >1 log) after 12 months. In conclusion,

HBsAg levels remained stable in stored frozen sera for 12 months without

significant changes, and could be used to quantify HBsAg accurately.

J. Med. Virol. 83:1900-1904, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 21915863 [PubMed - in process]