title: Quantitative assessment of hepatitis C virus RNA by polymerase chain reaction and a digoxigenin detection system: comparison with branched DNA assay.
abstract: A method for quantifying hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in serum using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by slot-blot hybridization with a specific, digoxigenin-labeled probe was developed. Using RNA synthesized from cloned HCV cDNA as a standard, serum concentration of HCV RNA above 10 copies/ml can be quantitatively determined. To compare this method with branched DNA (bDNA) assay, 45 serum samples from 26 patients with newly acquired acute hepatitis C (n = 16) or hepatitis C with acute exacerbation (n = 10) were submitted to both assays. HCV RNA in 30 (67%), 12 (27%) and three (6.7%) samples can be quantitatively determined by both, either and none of the two assays, respectively. Using a standardized qualitative HCV RNA detection test (Amplicor HCV test) as a reference, 1 and 0 false positive results were found by bDNA and this assay, respectively. This quantitative assay using RT-PCR and a digoxigenin detection system was comparable to bDNA assay. Since a false positive result was rarely found, this technique can be used as a first line test to screen a large number of samples rapidly and economically.
authors.affiliation: Liver Research Unit, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Shyu
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Sheen
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Liaw
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004076:Digoxigenin; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D004247:DNA; D007372:Interferons; D004076:Digoxigenin