Despite availability of a universal vaccine, hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection has a huge impact on public health worldwide. Accurate and timely diagnosis ofHBV infection is needed. Rapid developments have been made in the diagnostic and monitoring methods for HBV infection, including serological and molecular assays. In clinical practice, qualitative hepatitis B surface antigen(HBs Ag) testing has long served as a diagnostic marker for individuals infected with HBV. More recently, HBs Ag level has been used to predict treatment outcome when determined early during treatment or at baseline. However, identification of HBV DNA positive cases that do not have detectable HBs Ag has encouraged the application of molecular tests. Hence, combination of quantitative detection of HBV DNA and HBs Ag can be used to discriminate patients during the course of HBV infection and to monitor therapy. This article reviews the most commonly used quantitative methods for HBs Ag and HBV DNA.
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