Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in urine of asymptomatic HBsAg carriers

: Urine samples from 100 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers were examined for HBV DNA by a simple spot hybridization technique. The results showed that the positivity rate of HBV DNA of urine collected from HBsAg carriers with negative HBeAg was 6.5% where as that from HBsAg carriers with positive HBeAg were 21.1%. The above results suggested that presence of HBV in urine may be of important epidemiological significance in the contact transmission of Hepatitis B.