[Use of polymerase chain reaction in clinical diagnostic laboratories in viral hepatitis B and C].

HBV and HCV markers were detected in the blood serum of patients with acute and chronic hepatitis B (HCV), chronic hepatis C (HCV), and acute nonA, non-B, non-C hepatitis by enzyme immunoassay and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in order to assess the clinical value of PCR for the diagnosis of HBV and HCV and monitor the antiviral roferon A therapy in patients with HCV. HBV DNA was detected by the PCR in 100% of acute HBV patients and in 65.7% of chronic HBV patients. In chronic HCV, the PCR detected HCV RNA in 71% of cases. After roferon A therapy, HCV RNA was no longer detected in 43.2% of PCR-positive patients. PCR is recommended for the diagnosis of acute and chronic HCV, selecting the patient groups, and assessing the efficacy of specific therapy.