Dried blood spot: A diagnostic detection method for HBV, HCV and HIV nucleic acid using a single drop of blood.

The global strategy to eradicate Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and HIV by 2030 is critical due to their impact and challenges to healthcare systems. HCV is curable, but HBV and HIV are only suppressible, with a vaccine available solely for HBV. Innovative diagnostic methods are needed, especially for high-risk populations like people who inject drugs (PWID). This study validates a dried blood spot (DBS) nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) using the Hologic Panther system for detecting HBV, HCV, and HIV. The method was used to screen among PWID in the Capital Region of Denmark. The DBS method demonstrated high sensitivity, with a 95 % limit of detection (LoD) of 2711 IU/mL for HBV, 525 IU/mL for HCV, and 4022 copies/mL for HIV. Screening of 83 PWID in Denmark revealed a 13 % prevalence of active HCV infection, offering significant benefits in settings where traditional venous access is difficult.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authours/co-authours have no personal, financial, or other competing interest in the study conducted on the development of the dry blood spot method. The department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark have received speakers’ fees for a presentation by Stephen Strunge Nilsson. Henrik Westh has received speakers’ fees and has been on an Advisory Board for Hologic. Hologic Netherlands B. V., Kingsfordweg 151, 1043 GR Amsterdam, the Netherlands provided Aptima for validations and screening of PWID. The sponsor had no influence on study design, data generation, data interpretation, or writing of the manuscript.
(Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)