title: Nested polymerase chain reaction for detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in blood derivatives.
abstract: Testing for the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in blood derivatives used in clinical medicine is of enormous importance to ensure the production of safe preparations. So far, no system has been developed for the isolation and detection of hepatitis C virus from blood derivatives. The recently introduced commercial kit for the detection of hepatitis C virus is designed for the isolation and detection of virus from blood serum. A reliable and reproducible method for the isolation of hepatitis C virus RNA, subsequent reverse transcription and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from blood derivatives is described. Of 17 batches of factor VIII, gamma-globulin and anti tetanus, cytomegalovirus and Varicella-zoster immunoglobulin concentrates, respectively (14 negative for anti HCV and 3 of unknown anti HCV status) five were found positive in RNA-PCR.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Bosković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gall-Troselj
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kusić
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pećina-Slaus
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pavelić
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pavelić
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000737:chemistry*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D013742:Tetanus / Q000276:immunology; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D005719:gamma-Globulins; D005169:Factor VIII