Comparison of conventional autoradiography with a new DNA enzyme immunoassay for the detection of hepatitis C virus-polymerase chain reaction amplification products.
The detection of HCV-PCR amplification products by DNA enzyme immunoassay (DEIA) was compared with conventional hybridization carried out with a 32P-labelled oligonucleotide probe. The detection limit of both methods was shown to be between 100 pg and 1 ng of amplicon. All serum samples of 40 HCV-seropositive patients were positive after PCR in autoradiography, but only 38 with the DEIA technique (sensitivity 95%). There were no false-positive reactions by either method. The advantage of the DEIA method was the fast and non-radioactive detection of HCV amplicons. DEIA combines the specificity of the hybridization event with the speed of an ELISA procedure and is suitable for HCV-PCR.
Feucht
H H
HH
Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie, Universitätsklinikum Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Zöllner
B
B
Laufs
R
R
D001345:Autoradiography / Q000379:methods; D001483:Base Sequence; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral