Establishment of rapid and specific real-time PCR assays for the detection of hepatitis B viral genotype in tibet

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) with a C/D recombinant genotype is dominant in Tibet. A rapid, simple and specific genotyping system, consisting of three real-time PCR assays, was developed for the determination of genotypes C and D as well as two forms of recombinant C/D. Overall, 95% of the 22 samples were genotyped accurately. This system is considered to be a useful method for large-scale genotype surveys in Tibet.