title: GEMHEP multicenter quality control study of PCR detection of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus RNA in serum.
abstract: PCR is, to date, the only available tool for the detection of GB virus C (GBV-C) and hepatitis G virus (HGV) RNAs. Twenty-two French laboratories participated in a quality control study to assess the sensitivity and specificity of their procedures. The panel included 13 positive controls and 7 negative controls. The laboratories used either in-house PCR techniques adapted from the literature or partly standardized commercial tests. Three laboratories performed faultlessly with the entire panel. Most laboratories had excellent specificity (100% in 20 of 22 laboratories). Sensitivity was acceptable (85 to 100%) in 15 centers and insufficient (38 to 77%) in 7. As with nonstandardized in-house PCR, the commercial assays gave discrepant performances in different laboratories. These results suggest that laboratories willing to use PCR for detection of GBV-C/HGV RNA for research or diagnostic purposes should participate in multicenter quality control trials.
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier, Meaux, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bogard
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buffet-Janvresse
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cantaloube
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Biagini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Duverlie
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castelain
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Izopet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Defer
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lepot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coste
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marcellin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinot-Peignoux
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Halfon
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gerolami
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frangeul
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pawlotsky
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roudot-Thoraval
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dussaix
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Loiseau
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ravera
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lamoril
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lerable
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lebon
mesh_terms: D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011786:Quality Control; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral