Six standard panels for hepatoviral diagnosis.

Abstract

From the many available tests for hepatoviral diagnosis the most reliable and established were incorporated into a series of panels. Six groups or batteries of tests are proposed, each directed to one clinical question. These are hepatitis B detection and chronic hepatitis B monitoring, hepatitis detection and chronic hepatitis monitoring, as well as a hepatitis and chronic hepatitis monitoring, as well as a hepatitis screening panel for blood banks and an immune status panel to determine individual immune status and risk. This approach limits the number of immuno-diagnostic tests needed and simplifies laboratory workflow. The limitations, including specificity problems encountered with tests based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and probable future developments of tests excluded from the simplified panel concept are discussed.