Determination of HBV DNA by a simplified method of spot hybridization.

Molecular hybridization was employed to detect HBV DNA in sera of patients with acute or chronic hepatitis, by a simplified version of the spot hybridization technique. HBV DNA was found in 21 out of 50 sera obtained in acute hepatitis B. Determination of HBV DNA was negative in sera of patients with hepatitis A, Epstein-Bar virus infections or other HBsAg-negative liver diseases. There was no cross-hybridization between HBV DNA and sera of patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis.