Detection of hepatitis B virus infection markers in dried plasma spots among patients in Congo-Brazzaville

The detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection markers by using dried plasma spots from 32 patients living in Congo has been assessed. Considering frozen plasma samples as gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of HBV serologic markers detection in dried plasma eluted from filter paper were 100%. The sensitivity and the specificity of HBV DNA detection reached 96% and 100%, respectively, with plasma samples dried on filter paper compared to standard samples. Dried plasma samples can represent an alternative to conventional sampling for HBV detection and management of the infection in developing countries. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.