[Quality control of plasma(serum) specimen for the detection of HCV RNA with PCR].
OBJECTIVE
To define the optimal collection and storage parameters of serum (plasma) for HCV RNA detection.


METHODS
The serum(plasma) obtained from HCV RNA positive patients by different means and different processing and storage conditions, then HCV RNA was detected with the fluorescent quantitative PCR.


RESULTS
The centrifugation was performed within 2 hours after formation of the clot, loss of HCV RNA titers was 10.42% and significant loss of HCV RNA titers 40.49% was observed after 4 h. The HCV RNA titers in plasma samples with anticoagulants were much higher than that in serum samples(citrate sodium-anticoagulized 40.97%, EDTA-anticoagulated 53.14%). There was no loss of HCV RNA with up to three freeze-thaw cycles. A significant decrease in HCV RNA(15.6%) was observed at -20 degrees C after one year.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggested that it is important to process and store clinical samples for HCV RNA detection. The EDTA-K2 as anticoagulants the plasma must be collected within 3 h, and the serum must be prepared within 2 hours after hemosposia. It is essential to store the sample under -70 degrees C for the stability of HCV RNA in a longer time.
Wang
L
L
National Center for Clinical Lab, Beijing.
Zheng
H
H
Deng
W
W
D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D011786:Quality Control; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013696:Temperature
D012367:RNA, Viral