Hepatitis B Virus-Viral Load
Count the Virus to Control the Cure
The HBV Viral Load (also called HBV DNA PCR) is an advanced molecular test that measures the exact amount of Hepatitis B virus circulating in your blood.
While the screening test (HBsAg) acts like a simple "On/Off" switch (telling you if you have the virus), the Viral Load test is a Counter. It tells your doctor exactly how many viral copies are present in every milliliter of your blood. This number is the most critical factor in deciding when to start treatment and if the treatment is working.
Why Is This Test Critical?
This is the "Command Center" test for managing Chronic Hepatitis B. It is used to:
- Decide on Treatment: Not everyone with Hepatitis B needs medication immediately. Doctors use this number (often combined with ALT levels) to decide if the virus is active enough to require antiviral pills.
- Monitor Success: If you are taking medication (like Entecavir or Tenofovir), the goal is to make the Viral Load drop to "Undetectable." This test tracks that progress.
- Predict Cancer Risk: High viral loads (over time) are the strongest predictor of Liver Cancer (HCC) and Cirrhosis. Keeping the number low reduces this risk significantly.
- Pregnancy Safety: For pregnant mothers, a high viral load indicates a high risk of passing the virus to the baby.
