Hepatitis B (HBV) – Detection / Quantification
Hepatitis B represents a significant problem for the global community, as one-third of the world’s population has been infected with the HBV virus, and 5% suffer from the chronic form of the disease.
The hepatitis B virus is a hepatotropic DNA virus, highly resilient, capable of surviving for long periods under extreme temperature and humidity conditions outside its host (from -80 to +50 degrees Celsius).
The virus is mainly transmitted via blood, but less commonly through other infected body fluids (semen and saliva), primarily during sexual contact and intravenous substance use. It can also be transmitted from a carrier mother to her newborn during childbirth. Transmission through blood transfusion is rare, as current screening procedures prevent this mode of infection.
Test turnaround time: 1 week
