HBV DNA can be detected from nail clippings of HBs Ag positive patients.

proteinase K and was then incubated for 4 hrs at 55•Ž . After approximately 30 mg of nail clippings in a 1.5 ml microtest tube were rinsed once with 1.0 N NaOH and twice with distilled water, the nails were mixed with 300ƒÊ1 of 4 M guanidine thiocyanate, 0.5% (w/v) sodium N-lauroyl salcosinate, 25 mM sodium citrate, and 0.1 mM 2-mercaptoethanol [7], and were incubated at room temperature over night. Nucleic acids from serum or nail were extracted with