Viral Hepatitis Speciality Assays

HBV - Antiviral Resistance Testing and Genotyping

More than 300 million people worldwide are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Chronic hepatitis B is a major public health concern and management is complex. Besides pegylated interferon-, six nucleoside or nucleotide analogs (NA) with activity against HBV are currently available. Prolonged NA treatment is required in most cases to maintain viral suppression, with an inherent risk of the development of antiviral resistance. In this context, we can offer sequence-based HBV antiviral resistance testing. Information on the viral genotype can be provided at the same time.

To learn more about the HBV life cycle and clinical aspects of HBV infection go to Background and to learn more about the diagnostic aspects of HBV go to Diagnostics.

HCV - IL28B Genotyping

Polymorphisms near the IL28B gene have been identified in patients as strong predictors of the outcome of interferon--based therapy of chronic hepatitis C as well as spontaneous clearance of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). While the role of IL28B genotyping in clinical practice as well as its significance in the era of triple therapy remain to be defined, we can offer determination of the IL28B single nucleotide polymorphism rs12979860 where the favorable allele is C and the unfavorable allele is T.

HDV - Quantitative RNA Testing

Chronic hepatitis D is resurging in Northern Europe, including Switzerland, in the context of immigration of patients from countries where this form of hepatitis is common. Current treatment consists of pegylated interferon- for at least one year. The quantitative assessment of hepatitis D virus (HDV) RNA is not only important to confirm the diagnosis of hepatitis D but also, and even more importantly, to monitor treatment responses. To this end, we can offer a quantitative HDV RNA assay. To learn more on the diagnostic aspects of HDV go to Diagnostics.

HEV - Quantitative RNA Testing

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has emerged as a cause of travel-related and autochthonous acute hepatitis as well as chronic hepatitis in immunosuppressed patients. While travel-related cases are caused primarily by infections with HEV of genotype 1, autochthonous cases and chronic cases in immunosuppressed patients are due to genotype 3, which is shared between humans and diverse animal species. Anti-HEV antibodies are negative in approximately 50% of immunosuppressed patients with chronic hepatitis E. In this situation, as well as in selected cases of acute hepatitis E, determination of HEV RNA is indicated. To this end, we can offer a quantitative HEV RNA assay.

These viral hepatitis speciality assays have been established in a collaboration between the Institute of Microbiology and the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, University of Lausanne, with unrestricted research support from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis and Roche.

To submit samples for one or more of the above analyses, please use the CHUV-IMU order form No 151 (provided upon request to 021-3144107). Please indicate the requested assay in the field “Autres”.
For the HBV and HDV assays only, the IMU order form 151 should please be accompanied by the clinical form ( 27 Ko) to allow clinical interpretation.
Adequate blood samples are either EDTA-K blood (requested for IL28B genotyping) or plasma (5-10 ml, priority mail, ambient temperature). When submitting a sample to us, you are responsible to unequivocally identify the sample with its matching clinical form by using the labels provided with the CHUV-IMU order form 151 and patient name, first name, date of birth as well as physician coordinates.

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