Improved sensitivity of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for hepatitis C virus using random hexamer primers.
The use of specific primers and random primers for the detection of hepatitis C virus RNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was compared. The cDNA obtained from using both methods was amplified by the same protocol. Of the 30 plasma specimens tested, 6 (20%) were hepatitis C virus RNA-positive using specific primers and 19 (63%) were positive using random primers, demonstrating that the use of random hexamer-primed reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction significantly improves the sensitivity (p < 0.01).
Radhakrishnan
S
S
Department of Clinical Virology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, India.
Abraham
P
P
Sridharan
G
G
D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012367:RNA, Viral