Correlation between Results of Semi-Quantitative and Quantitative Tests for Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen among Patients Achieving Viral Suppression with Antiviral Treatment
Goh Eun Chung,
Ju Yeon Kim,
Hyunjae Shin,
Ji Hoon Hong,
Moon Haeng Hur,
Heejin Cho,
Min Kyung Park,
Na Ryung Choi,
Jihye Kim,
Yun Bin Lee,
Eun Ju Cho,
Su Jong Yu,
Yoon Jun Kim,
Jung-Hwan Yoon,
Jeong-Hoon Lee
Affiliations
Goh Eun Chung
Department of Internal Medicine, Healthcare Research Institute, Gangnam Healthcare Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
Ju Yeon Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Hyunjae Shin
Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Ji Hoon Hong
Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Moon Haeng Hur
Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Heejin Cho
Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Min Kyung Park
Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Na Ryung Choi
Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Jihye Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Yun Bin Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Eun Ju Cho
Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Su Jong Yu
Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Yoon Jun Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Jung-Hwan Yoon
Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Jeong-Hoon Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a threat to global public health. Serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has been used in screening for HBV infection. Quantitative HBsAg assays are useful for monitoring the natural history of HBV infection and its response to therapy. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between quantitative (qHBsAg; IU/mL) and semi-quantitative (sqHBsAg; signal-to-cutoff ratio [S/Co]) HBsAg titers in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods: We retrospectively included 284 samples with HBV DNA n = 239 and HBeAg-positive, n = 45). The Spearman test was used to analyze the correlation between the quantitative and semi-quantitative assays. Results: There was a significant linear correlation between sqHBsAg and qHBsAg in the HBeAg-negative patients (qHBsAg [IU/mL] = 0.0094 × sqHBsAg [S/Co]1.323; adjusted R2 = 0.8445; p 1.331; adjusted R2 = 0.7878; p 14 × sqHBsAg [S/Co]−3.175; adjusted R2 = 0.6350; p Conclusions: There was a highly linear, positive correlation between qHBsAg and sqHBsAg in HBeAg-negative CHB patients. The hook effect led to a negative correlation in HBeAg-positive CHB patients with qHBsAg titers ≥1000 IU/mL.
