Background: The elevated levels of HBV DNA and alanine aminotransferase levels (ALT) remain major risk factors for progression of chronic HBV infection which is associated with serious, long-term complications.

Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) measures viral genome in body fluids and are now widely used for estimating patient’s infectivity, assessment of prognosis, efficacy of antiviral treatment and identifying emergence of drug resistance.

Methods: The study was carried out on 136 participants. Blood specimens was obtained for quantitative PCR assay at the NCDC Molecular diagnosis laboratory using commercial reaction mix with an analytic sensitivity of 20-50 copies/ml of HBV DNA and serum was obtained for ALT assay. Data analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and results presented as tables

Results: A prevalence rate of 28.7% for Hepatitis B envelop antigen was established among subjects, while 71.3% were negative. The mean ALT level was 34.5IU/ml, 84.6% had normal ALT values, 1.5% were mildly elevated and up to 14% were markedly elevated. No strong association was found between HBeAg status and raised ALT levels.

The mean HBV DNA quantity was 37,094,093 copies/ml. About 85.3% had detectable levels of HBV DNA while 4.7% had levels below the lower limit of detection.

Conclusion: HBV DNA level and serum ALT are important biomarker of disease progression in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection and imperative for consideration in its effective management.

Keywords: Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HBV DNA, HBeAg, alanine aminotransferase ALT.

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Abdallah Sanda

Consultant Microbiology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria