[Comparison of three methods for quantitative measurement of hepatitis C virus].
Three assays for measuring hepatitis C virus(HCV) were compared with regard to sensitivity and correlations. The methods included were the Roche Amplicor HCV Monitor test(PCR), the branched DNA signal amplification assay(b-probe), and the serum concentration of HCV core protein measured by the sandwich FEIA (Core-Ag). Also, HCV serotypes were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Testing 105 consecutive HCV-RNA positive samples showed that the PCR was the most sensitive assay(100% quantifiable), followed by the Core-Ag(82.4%) and the b-probe(75.3%). The values obtained by each method correlated well in serotype 1, whereas some discordance was noted in serotype 2 cases. Also, serotype 2 samples were less quantifiable particularly by b-probe assay than serotype 1 samples. These points have to be considered in quantification of serum HCV levels by currently available these three methods.
Yukimasa
N
N
Clinical Laboratory of Tsukuba University Hospital.
Nomura
F
F
Sawahata
T
T
Takano
S
S
Isobe
K
K
Tanaka
N
N
Nakai
T
T
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012703:Serotyping
D015415:Biomarkers; D012367:RNA, Viral