HBV Viral Load

Testing Laboratory

Department

Virology

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

HEPQ

Test Code (Numeric Code)

8639

Laboratory Handling

Phlebotomy

A dedicated specimen (i.e. no other tests to be performed) is required for this assay. SST tube preferred. Plasma from micro EDTA tubes and PPT tubes is acceptable.

Separating

SST/PPT tubes must be centrifuged and the serum separated within 6 hours of collection.

Laboratory

Centrifuged SST/PPT tubes should be sent to the Molecular Infectious Diseases section during normal working hours, Monday to Friday (08:00–16:00). After hours and on weekends, store specimens at 2–8°C in the designated box/rack. in ALSS.

Sample Stability

SST/PPT tubes must be centrifuged and serum separated within 6 hours of collection. Separated serum/Plasm is stable at 2–8°C for up to 7 days. If storage exceeds 7 days, separated serum/plasma should be aliquoted into labelled secondary tubes and frozen at ≤−20°C.

Associated Tests

• HBV Drug Resistance Genotyping

Synonyms

HBV Viral Load
Hepatitis B Viral Load
HBV Quantitative PCR
Hepatitis B Virus Quantitative PCR

Turnaround Time

3 days

Test is performed Monday to Friday and is not performed on weekends.

Specimen Type

• Plasma
• Serum

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• SST II (Gold Cap)

Acceptable

• SST II (Gold Cap)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

1

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

0.7

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• EDTA (Microtainer)

Acceptable

• EDTA (Microtainer)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

1.5

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

1.5

Additional Specimen Information

The preferred sample volume is 650 µL for routine high-volume testing. If insufficient volume is available, small-volume testing can be performed using a minimum of 350 µL .

Aliquot Instructions

Sample Type

• Plasma

Minimum Volume (ml)

1

Transport to Lab

Chilled (2 - 8 degrees Celsius)
Frozen

Additional Referral/Aliquot Information

Sample requirements:
SST tubes are the preferred specimen type. Plasma separated from EDTA Micro collect tubes and PPT tubes is acceptable.
SST/PPT tubes must be centrifuged and serum/plasma separated within 6 hours of collection.
EDTA tubes must be centrifuged within 6 hours of collection and the plasma transferred to a separate sterile tube.
Submit a minimum of 1.0 mL of separated seum/plasma.
Sample stability:
Centrifuged SST/PPT tube with separated serum/plasma is stable at 2–8°C for up to 7 days.
EDTA plasma: EDTA whole blood must be centrifuged and plasma transferred to a sterile secondary tube within 6 hours of collection. Separated plasma is stable at 2–8°C for up to 7 days.
If storage exceeds 7 days, separated plasma/serum should be aliquoted and frozen at ≤−20°C.
Transport:
Transport separated serum/plasma chilled at 2–8°C if it will be received within 7 days of collection. If this period will be exceeded, transport the specimen frozen.

Test Method

Quantitative HBV viral load testing using the Roche cobas 6800 HBV assay.

Limitations / Interference

The linear range of the assay is:

650 µL sample volume: 10–1,000,000,000 HBV DNA IU/mL (1.00–9.00 log IU/mL).
350 µL sample volume: 25–1,000,000,000 HBV DNA IU/mL (1.40–9.00 log IU/mL).

HBV viral load results are reported in IU/mL and log IU/mL.

One HBV IU is equivalent to approximately 5.82 HBV DNA copies

Uncertainty of Measurement

+/- 0.01 log IU/ml

Urgent enquiries:
In normal working hours (08:00-16:00 Mon-Fri) contact Clinical Virology via LabLINK (internal extension 22000, external number 09 307 8995).
Outside of normal working hours (evenings and weekends) contact the On Call Clinical Microbiologist via Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai Auckland main switchboard (09 367 0000).
Non-urgent enquiries:
Email: AK-MOL-INF-DIS@tewhatuora.govt.nz

Contact Information