A Nested PCR Method for the Identification of Hepatitis B Virus Genotype in Paraffin Blocks of Formalin-Fixed Liver Biopsies

Hepatitis B virus is a hepatotropic virus that causes acute and chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma; it is responsible for more than one million deaths annually worldwide despite hepatitis B vaccination. Until now, there are eight known genotypes (A-H). Clinical course of chronic hepatitis B varies according to the genotype of Hepatitis B virus. Liver biopsy becomes necessary to judge the degree of liver lesions and to make the final diagnosis, especially to make the diagnosis for latent liver damage and early-compensated cirrhosis. Genotype is very important for prognostication, but it has not yet been reported on liver tissues. Sometimes, it can be helpful to do genotyping of Hepatitis B virus of the liver tissue; such conditions include research programs, when serum is not available or when serum is negative for Hepatitis B virus DNA. In this study, we wanted to evaluate the feasibility of a simple method for genotyping of liver tissue samples. We performed genotyping of the liver biopsies and intended to find out a simple and reliable method for genotyping in the paraffin- embedded formalin- fixed liver tissue. Genotype D was the only isolated genotype in all the liver biopsies. The tissue genotype was just the same as that found in serum. The procedure was easy and good for large scale studies. Genotyping in the paraffin-embedded formalin-fixed stored liver tissue can be done with the same accuracy of the serum.