Hepatitis B virus DNA in persons with isolated antibody to hepatitis B core antigen who subsequently received hepatitis B vaccine.

Silva, A E; McMahon, B J; Parkinson, A J; Sjogren, M H; Hoofnagle, J H; Di Bisceglie, A M · Clin Infect Dis · 1998

case_series · Level IV

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Abstract

Serum samples from 133 persons who were positive only for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) were retested for seromarkers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) by radioimmunoassay and for HBV DNA by polymerase chain reaction analysis. All persons were subsequently vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine. HBV DNA was found in only five persons, four of whom remained positive during retesting. Most persons had a primary antibody response with three doses of hepatitis B vaccine. Evidence of HBV DNA was not detected in 96% of persons with isolated anti-HBc by EIA.

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