Assessing Hepatitis B immunity using dried blood spot samples from HIV individuals.

This study aims to evaluate the utility of an optimized enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to detect and quantify antibodies against hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) in dried blood spots (DBSs) within the context of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status. Serum and DBS samples were obtained from 56 HIV+ and 99 HIV- patients and subjected to EIA for the detection of anti-HBs, where sample volume and cut off value were modified for DBS testing. Sensitivities of anti-HBs detection in DBS were 79.8% and 76.8% in HIV- and HIV+ subjects, respectively. Concordant results for anti-HBs in serum and DBS presented high mean CD8 cell counts, HIV viral load and optical density (OD) values of anti-HBs. Anti-HBs titers were significantly higher in serum, whether or not anti-HBs titers were detected in DBS. It was possible to detect anti-HBs in DBS as low as 17.4 and 27.3IU/mL among HIV+ and HIV- subjects, respectively. In conclusion, DBS can be used to detect and quantify anti-HBs in HIV-infected individuals, which could increase access to diagnosis and vaccination. Highlights Evaluation of anti-HBs detection in DBS according to HIV status.Similar performance of anti-HBs detection from DBS independent of HIV status.Detection of anti-HBs in concentration up to 17 IU / mL in DBS.DBS could be a potential tool to increase identification of hepatitis B immunity.