GEMHEP multicenter quality control study of PCR detection of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus RNA in serum.
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.
Bogard
M
M
Centre Hospitalier, Meaux, France.
Buffet-Janvresse
C
C
Cantaloube
J F
JF
Biagini
P
P
Duverlie
G
G
Castelain
S
S
Izopet
J
J
Dubois
M
M
Defer
C
C
Lepot
I
I
Coste
J
J
Marcellin
P
P
Martinot-Peignoux
M
M
Halfon
P
P
Gerolami
V
V
Frangeul
L
L
Pawlotsky
J M
JM
Roudot-Thoraval
F
F
Dussaix
E
E
Loiseau
P
P
Ravera
N
N
Lewin
P
P
Lamoril
J
J
Lerable
J
J
Lebon
P
P
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
D012367:RNA, Viral