HBsAg, HBeAg, IgM anti-HBc, anti-HBs, and anti-HBe were tested by commercially available enzyme-linked immunoassays. Serum quantitative HBV DNA assay was performed by use of an ultra sensitive Hybrid capture assay [Digene Labs, USA] that has a lower limit of detection of 4,700 copies/ml. An arbitrary value of 4,700 copies/ml was assigned to values < 4,700 copies/ml for analysis purposes. In such patients HBV DNA was done by an in-house qualitative PCR test to indicate negativity or positivity of viral DNA. The lower limit of detection was 600 copies/ml.