Author information

• ¹Scripps Mercy Hospital, 435 H Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910, USA.
• ²University of California, School of Medicine, 3390 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501, USA.
• ³Naval Medical Center, 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, San Diego, CA 92134, USA.
• ⁴Center for Organ Transplant, Scripps Clinic, Scripps MD Anderson Center, Scripps Green Hospital, 10666 N. Torrey Pines Road (N-200), La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. Electronic address: gutierrez.julio@scrippshealth.org.

Abstract

Diagnosis of HDV exposure is based on clinical assays of anti-hepatitis D antibody and current infection with hepatitis D RNA PCR. The role of hepatitis D antigen testing is not yet defined. RT-qPCR is the gold standard for measuring HDV RNA viral load, which is used to assess response to the treatment of HDV infection. Gaps in testing include poor sensitivity of antigen testing and quantitative HDV RNA accuracy can be affected by the genotypic variability of the virus and variation in laboratory techniques. There is also a limitation in HDV testing due to access, cost, and limited knowledge of testing indications. Droplet digital PCR promises to be a more accurate method to quantify HDV RNA. Also, the recent development of a rapid HDV detection test could prove useful in resource-limited areas.