Lab test · Molecular
Hepatitis B Viral Load (HBV DNA)
Hepatitis B virus amount
- Blood sample
- No fasting
- Report within 5 days
- Home collection
What this test is for
Hepatitis B virus amount
This test measures how much hepatitis B virus genetic material (DNA) is in your blood, using a sensitive method called PCR. The result, called the viral load, shows how actively the virus is multiplying. It is used for people already known to have hepatitis B, to help the doctor decide whether treatment is needed and to check how well treatment is working.
Why a doctor may order it
- To assess a hepatitis B infection already found with an HBsAg test
- To help decide whether antiviral treatment is needed
- To check that treatment is keeping the virus under control
- During pregnancy, to help the doctor plan how to protect the baby
- When liver tests change in someone with long-term hepatitis B
How to prepare
Fasting: Not needed.
No fasting or special preparation is needed; you can eat and drink normally. If you take a hepatitis B medicine, do not stop or change it before the test without talking to your doctor. Bring your earlier viral load reports, if you have them, so the results can be compared.
At home
- Sample
- Blood sample
- How it works
- The collector takes a small blood sample from a vein in your arm at your home, which takes a few minutes. The tube is sealed, labelled with your details and sent to the laboratory for PCR testing.
- Report
- Within 5 days of collection.
What the results can mean
The report gives the amount of virus, or says it is not detected, which means it is below the level the test can measure. A higher viral load means the virus is more active, and a falling or undetectable level on treatment usually means the medicine is working. Your doctor will read the result together with your liver tests, HBeAg status and scans, rather than on its own.
What's included
One test: Hepatitis B Viral Load (HBV DNA), from one blood sample.
Related tests
- Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg)HBsAg is a protein on the surface of the hepatitis B virus.
- HBeAg (Hepatitis B e Antigen)Hepatitis B activity৳550
- Liver Function Test (LFT)A liver function test is a group of blood tests that show how well your liver is working and whether it is inflamed or damaged.
- SGPT (Alanine Aminotransferase, ALT)SGPT, also called ALT (alanine aminotransferase), is an enzyme found mainly inside liver cells.
- Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP)Alpha-fetoprotein is a protein made mainly by the liver of an unborn baby, so levels are naturally high in pregnancy and very low in other adults.
- Hepatitis C Viral Load (HCV RNA)Hepatitis C virus amount৳5,550
Questions people ask
Is HBV DNA the same as an HBsAg test?
No. HBsAg shows whether hepatitis B infection is present. HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood, so it is used after HBsAg is positive, not as a first screening test.
What does 'not detected' mean on an HBV DNA report?
It means the amount of virus is below the lowest level the test can measure. It does not always mean the infection has gone, so your doctor will still advise on follow-up.
How often is the HBV DNA test repeated?
It depends on the stage of the infection and whether you are on treatment. Your doctor will tell you when to repeat it, usually alongside liver function tests.
How much does a HBV DNA test cost in Dhaka?
With Mukti Health the price is ৳5,900, and the sample is collected at your home in Dhaka. You see the price again before you confirm the booking in the Mukti Health app.
Can I do the HBV DNA test at home in Dhaka?
Yes. Book it in the Mukti Health app and a trained sample collector comes to your home in Dhaka to take the blood sample. You do not need to go to a laboratory.
How long does the HBV DNA report take?
The report is usually ready within 5 days of the sample being collected.