Combined use of dried blood spot and rapid molecular systems: A robust solution to monitor hepatitis B virus infection with potential for resource-limited countries

Pauline Bargain (1) , Christopher Heslan (2) , Vincent Thibault (1) , Charlotte Pronier (1)

1 Irset - Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail
2 Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes [CHU Rennes] = Rennes University Hospital [Ponchaillou]

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) particularly affects resource-limited countries. CHB management in these areas faces many obstacles for optimal care of patients, including poor access to HBV-DNA quantification, a key marker. This study aims to evaluate the quantification of HBV-DNA on dried blood spots (DBS) using rapid, standardized and fully automated on-demand systems. After a simple and rapid DBS elution protocol, HBV-DNA was simply and accurately quantified on this matrix using two different systems. Limit of quantification was estimated at 400 IU/mL. DBS and plasma HBV-DNA quantification provided comparable results. HBV-DNA stability for up to one month was demonstrated on DBS stored at room temperature, a condition compatible for preservation or transport before analysis. The combined use of DBS and commercially available automated molecular on-demand systems for HBV-DNA quantification could represent a reliable alternative in resource-limited countries to reach remote populations. The good sensitivity of this approach makes it attractive for mother-to-child transmission prevention, treatment decision and follow-up. Costs can be limited if such systems are also validated for other molecular markers.

Mots clés: DBS testing; Sensitivity; Standardization; Viral load

Domaines: Virologie; Maladies infectieuses

Pauline Bargain, Christopher Heslan, Vincent Thibault, Charlotte Pronier. Combined use of dried blood spot and rapid molecular systems: A robust solution to monitor hepatitis B virus infection with potential for resource-limited countries. Journal of Virological Methods, 2020, 283, pp.113908. ⟨10.1016/j.jviromet.2020.113908⟩. ⟨hal-02888689⟩