Detection and potential indicators of the presence of hepatitis C virus on surfaces in hospital settings.
OBJECTIVE
The risk of hepatitis C virus infection in hospital environments can be assessed not only by studying epidemiological data and work practices, but also by the detection of these viruses (or indicators thereof) in health-care settings, on instruments etc.


METHODS
Since standardized techniques specific to this end do not exist, this study was undertaken to apply methods currently used on clinical samples to the assessment of environmental HCV risk, either through direct detection of the virus (RT-PCR), or by probing for haemoglobin as a potential indicator of blood contamination. The tested techniques were applied in a trial environmental monitoring programme undertaken in various hospital laboratories and clinics, during which total bacterial count determinations were performed in parallel with haemoglobin and hepatitis C virus detection.


CONCLUSIONS
The data indicate that the applied methods are of value in detecting low levels of contamination in a hospital environment.
Carducci
Annalaura
A
Department of Experimental Pathology, Medical Biotechnologies, Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, University of Pisa, Italy. carducci@ocs.unipd.it
Verani
M
M
Casini
B
B
Giuntini
A
A
Mazzoni
F
F
Rovini
E
E
Passaglia
A
A
Giusti
L
L
Valenza
A
A
Lombardi
R
R
D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006761:Hospitals
D006454:Hemoglobins