WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Hepatits B and D
Head: Dr Kathy Jackson
The Western Pacific WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Hepatitis B and D was designated by WHO in 2010. The reference laboratory located at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) consists of the Hepatitis Serology Laboratory and the Blood Borne virus Laboratory. The aim of the Reference Laboratory is to provide comprehensive diagnostic services for Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses and also provide diagnostic support for the Western Pacific Region of the WHO (WPRO). The Regional Reference Laboratory’s work is not restricted to diagnostic work; laboratory staff also undertake a wide range of research projects including investigations into unusual genotype patterns for the hepatitis viruses, and investigations into unusual banding interpretation charts.
Serology
The laboratory performs confirmatory and specialised serological testing for hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E infection. Confirmatory testing for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is carried out by antibody neutralisation. This procedure is needed to exclude the possibility of false positive reactions in surface antigen screening assays. The laboratory performs quantitative testing for HBsAg and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). Although there is presently no accepted gold standard confirmatory test for HCV antibody, at VIDRL all specimens reactive in the EIA screening test are re-tested in a second assay, chosen to minimise non-specific cross reactivity. The Reference Laboratory is the only laboratory in Victoria that performs testing for hepatitis D (delta) and hepatitis E infections.
Molecular Virology and Blood Borne Virus laboratory
The VIDRL Blood Borne Virus (BBV) laboratory is primarily a diagnostic laboratory encompassing the State Reference Laboratory for HIV Characterisation and the WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Hepatitis B and D for the Western Pacific Region. The BBV provides a range of specialised tests including confirmation, quantitation and characterisation of HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis A to E viruses and transplant viruses BKV and JCV.