title: Detection of HCV-RNA in the blood donor population of Yorkshire.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of hepatitis C virus-ribonucleic acid (HCV-RNA) in the plasma of blood donors who attend the Yorkshire Regional Transfusion Centre. These donors had previously had a positive or indeterminate recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) result. For increased sensitivity of reaction and greater specificity of product, a 'nested-primer' PCR was used. One hundred and ninety-two samples were examined, of which 18 were RIBA-positive and HCV-RNA was detected in 15 (83%) of them. Of the 174 RIBA indeterminates only one (0.6%) had detectable HCV-RNA. The rate of HCV-RNA detection in fresh and archive samples was compared and found to be greater with the fresh samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Yorkshire Regional Transfusion Centre, Leeds, England, UK.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral