Identification of oligonucleotides for the capture, detection and quantitation of hepatitis B viral DNA

A method for detecting Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a biological sample, the method comprising:

• isolating nucleic acids from a biological sample suspected of containing HBV;
• amplifying the nucleic acids using at least two primers wherein (a) each of the primers is not more than about 60 nucleotides in length and comprises a nucleotide sequence of at least 10 contiguous nucleotides from a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:
• 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 or (b) primers having 90% sequence identity to a nucleotide sequence of (a), wherein each of the two primers is sufficiently complementary to a portion of the sense and antisense strands, respectively, of the isolated nucleic acid to hybridize therewith;
• and
• detecting the presence of the amplified nucleic acids as an indication of the presence or absence of HBV in the sample.

A method for detecting Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a biological sample, the method comprising:

• (a) contacting a solid support with one or more capture nucleic acids selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:
• 1, 2, 3, and 4 under conditions wherein the capture nucleic acids become associated with the solid support,
• (b) contacting the solid support of (a) with the biological sample under hybridizing conditions wherein target nucleic acid strands from HBV when present hybridize with the capture nucleic acids;
• and
• (c) separating the solid support of (b) from the sample;
• (d) amplifying the nucleic acids using a sense primer comprising SEQ ID NO:5 and at least two antisense primers comprising SEQ ID NOs:
• 6 and 8 or SEQ ID Nos:
• 9 and 10, wherein the sense and antisense primers are sufficiently complementary to a portion of the sense and antisense strands, respectively, of the isolated nucleic acid to hybridize therewith;
• and
• (e) detecting the presence of the amplified nucleic acids as an indication of the presence or absence of HBV in the sample.

A kit for detecting Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a biological sample, the kit comprising:

• capture nucleic acids comprising one or more oligonucleotides, wherein each of the oligonucleotides is not more than about 60 nucleotides in length and comprises a nucleotide sequence of at least 10 contiguous nucleotides of a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, and SEQ ID NO:4.;
• primer oligonucleotides wherein the primer oligonucleotides are not more than about 60 nucleotides in length and comprise a nucleotide sequence of at least 10 contiguous nucleotides from a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:
• 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10;
• and
• written instructions for identifying HBV infection.