HBV serologic markers
All plasma samples were screened using a commercially
available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for
the presence of HBsAg (Bioelisa, Biokit, Barcelona, Spain).
This kit utilizes a sandwich ELISA format using guinea pig
anti-HBs antibodies coated to microplate wells which act as
the capture antibody and goat anti-HBs antibodies marked
with peroxidase which serve as conjugate antibodies.
HBsAg positive samples were then screened for HBeAg by
ELISA (DRG Instruments GmbH, Germany) while HBsAg
negative samples were also screened for anti-HBc and antiHBs
(DRG Instruments GmbH, Germany