Introduction
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) affects more than 257 million people worldwide and is a potential life threat resulting in 880.000 deaths per year (1). The prevalence of HBV infection varies according to geographical regions around the world, but the highest seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is reported in Africa (8.8%) and Western Pacific (5.3%) (1). The prevalence of chronic HBV ranges from 2% to 8% in Turkey and is located in intermediate- prevalence areas (2). It is estimated that HBV carriers in Turkey is 3.3 million and the overall HBsAg prevalence is 4.5% (3). The transmission of HBV can occur through various body fluids such as infected blood and blood products, from mother to baby, sexual contact with the unvaccinated individual, acupuncture, tattoo and/or saliva, vaginal secretions as well as seminal fluids (4). Today, it is tried to lower the risk of developing liver failure, cirrhosis and subsequent cancer with the follow-up and treatment of HBV infections (5).
Laboratory diagnosis of HBV infection can be performed by using different serological and molecular techniques as well as liver biopsy which plays an important role in treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis (CH) (6). Although liver biopsy is still considered as the gold standard for the determination of liver fibrosis and necro-inflammatory activity, laboratory methods are preferred because of temporary pain in the biopsy site, mild transient hypotension, as well as more serious complications such as bleeding, biliary peritonitis, bacteremia, sepsis, pneumothorax and rarely death (7). HBV infections can be identified by routine applications of serological and molecular markers (8). On the other hand, serum HBV-DNA levels that can be used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) can be measured by hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based molecular techniques (9). Real-time PCR (rt-PCR) based molecular quantitation techniques such as Qiagen, Abbott, COBAS Ampliprep platforms are routinely used in our country (9). In order to determine viral load of HBV quantitatively, rt-PCR kits are also designed in our country.
In this study, we aimed to compare Qiagen HBV-DNA quantitative kit and Iontek HBV-DNA quantitative kit produced in our country by using sera of patients with chronic HBV infected with genotype D.
Materials and Methods
In this retrospective study, a total of 87 CHB patients infected with HBV genotype D were sent to the routine PCR unit of Kocaeli University Research and Application Hospital for HBV-DNA quantitation. HBV-DNA loads were obtained by using rt-PCR technique with Qiagen (Artus Hilden HBV QS RGQAR Qiagen, Germany) and Iontek (Iontek İstanbul, Turkey) kits simultaneously, according to the manufacturer’s instructions and all tests were repeated twice for both kits. The obtained viral loads in IU/mL were converted into log IU/mL values that were used in the correlation analysis between Qiagen and Iontek assays.
The study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Kocaeli University (approval number: KAEK 2011/104). Since our study was retrospective, informed consent was not used.
Statistical Analysis
For the comparison Qiagen and Iontek HBV-DNA quantitation, HBV-DNA logarithmic (log) value distributions were determined and their mean and standard deviations (SD) were calculated. The statistical differences between HBV log values obtained from two kits, were calculated. The hypotheses constructed for the t-test used for this purpose were H0: the difference between the means was 0 and Ha: the difference between the means was different from 0. The confidence intervals (CI) between the obtained measurements were determined and the measurements were examined for linearity. The hypotheses designed for this purpose; H0; the relationship between the two variables is linear and Ha; The relationship between the two variables was determined as non-linear.
Significance of the difference between HBV-DNA log values of both kits was defined by p value (>0.5) according to t-test. The CI of the difference between the two measurements was calculated according to the Bland-Altman distribution. The linearity between the two measurements was determined by Passing-Bablok regression analysis.
For all statistical analyzes and figures, XLSTAT (Addinsoft Inc., New York, USA) statistical program was used.
Results
HBV-DNA loads were obtained by quantitative rt-PCR method in serum samples of 87 CHB patients infected with HBV genotype D. HBV loads were defined as IU/mL, but these values were converted to log values for all statistical analyzes. Log values obtained from the results of Qiagen and Iontek kits were used in this study.
HBV-DNA log values obtained with the kits of both manufacturers were compatible with each other (bias within 95% CI: -0.84; SD: 0.67). According to the serum HBV-DNA log value distributions, the most frequent viral load was detected in the range of 2.50-3.39, while the low frequency HBV-DNA loads were found in the values of 9.08-9.26 log. While the viral load was detected in 2 samples with 0.73 log values with the Iontek kit, no viral load of the same value was detected with the Qiagen kit. The distribution of frequency and log values of the patient samples is shown in Table 1. Qiagen and Iontek HBV-DNA quantitation log distribution graph is demonstrated in Figure 1.
The mean ± SD values for Qiagen and Iontek kits were found as 3.7950±2.0579 and 3.7127±1.9598 respectively. According to t-test, p value was found to be 0.0505>0.5.
Bland - Altman plot shows statistical comparison between two measurements. The bias and the standard error were found as -0.0824 and 0.3873. The CI for the difference between the two measurements was found to be (-0.8415; 0.6768). Bland-Altman distribution analysis is shown in Figure 2.
The Passing - Bablok test was used to determine the linearity between the two test results. In the Passing - Bablok regression analysis, p value was measured as 0.6190> 0.5. Qiagen and Iontek HBV-DNA log values were determined within 95% CI. Passing - Bablok linearity analysis is given in Figure 3.
Discussion
HBV-DNA viral load analyzes used to confirm HBV infection and to evaluate antiviral response are considered to be a good indicator of viral replication and are often expressed using different units such as copies/mL or IU/mL (5,10,11,12). On the other hand, the World Health Organization recommends that serum HBV-DNA concentration to be expressed as standard IU/mL in monitoring the success of oral antiviral therapy in CHB patients (13). However, in order to express the performance characteristics of kits or methods as standard in comparative analyzes, viral load values are used by converting them to log values (14,15,16). In this study that focused on comparing Qiagen and Iontek HBV-DNA quantitation kits, HBV-DNA loads were defined in IU/mL, but these results were converted to log values for all statistical analyzes. In the HBV log value distribution graph, the correlation between the two variables was found to be consistent (Figure 1). There was no statistically significant difference between the results (p value: 0.0505). According to our findings, the hypothesis H0: (difference between the averages was 0) was accepted, whereas the Ha hypothesis (difference between the averages was different from 0) was rejected.
The reliability and reproducibility of any test kit and/or method must be measured before routine use. Therefore, the difference between the values obtained should be expected to be acceptable (17). In this study, distribution analyzes were used to understand the agreement between the two kits. For this purpose, Bland-Altman and Passing-Bablok analyzes were used. According to our findings, HBV-DNA log values obtained with Qiagen and Iontek kits were statistically compatible in Bland-Altman distribution within 95% CI (-0.84 and -0.67). In addition, the HBV-DNA log values obtained with the Qiagen and Iontek kits were linear according to the Passing Bablok distribution (p value; 0.6190). Bland Altman and Passing - Bablok distribution analyzes are the methods used to investigate the harmony between different methods or variables which are accepted as the gold standard in the statistical analysis of the comparison studies (18).
It is aimed to improve quality of life of people with CHB with lifelong follow-up and treatment. Often oral antivirals and rarely immunoregulatory agents (peg - interferon) are used in the treatment of CHB for this purpose (5,19). Oral antiviral therapy is based on lifelong HBV suppression and reduction of liver inflammation. However, serum HBV-DNA levels should be checked at regular intervals and treatment response should be monitored in patients with CHB during treatment (5). Many commercial kits are currently used to measure viral load by rt-PCR based technique (9). It will be beneficial for our country to produce analysis kits that can be used in molecular diagnosis. In many studies, Qiagen kits were compared with different platforms such as Roche, Abbott, DxN VERIS in terms of business model or performance characteristics (9,12,20). However, our knowledge about the performance characteristics of CE marked Iontek HBV-DNA quantitation kit that is produced in our country is limited. Our findings indicate that results of Iontek HBV-DNA rt-PCR kit are compatible with Qiagen rt-PCR kit results HBV-DNA in serum samples of patients with chronic HBV infected with HBV genotype D.
Conclusion
In conclusion, comparative distribution analysis of Qiagen and Iontek HBV-DNA viral load kits shows us that a product from our country can be used safely in the treatment follow-up of CHB patients. Such studies may be useful in supporting the production of high value-added products in our country while being delivered to other users in the world.
Ethics
Ethics Committee Approval: The study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Kocaeli University (approval number: KAEK 2011/104).
Informed Consent: Since our study was retrospective, informed consent was not used.
Peer-review: Externally and internally peer-reviewed.
Authorship Contributions
Surgical and Medical Practices: M.S., Concept: A.A., M.S., Design: A.A., M.S., Data Collection or Processing: M.S., Analysis or Interpretation: A.A., M.S., Literature Search: A.A., M.S., Writing: A.A., M.S.
Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Financial Disclosure: The authors declare that this study has not received any financial support.