The development of a qualitative real-time RT-PCR assay for the detection of hepatitis C virus.
Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) represents a favourable option for the detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV). A real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) assay was developed as a qualitative diagnostic screening method for the detection of HCV using the ABI PRISM 7500 Sequence Detection System. The primers and probe were designed to target the 5'-untranslated region of the hepatitis C viral genome. A second heterologous probe assay was developed for the detection of the haemagglutinin gene of phocine distemper virus (PDV) and was used as an internal control. A semi-automated HCV extraction method was also implemented using the ABI PRISM 6100 Nucleic Acid PrepStation. The HCV assay was optimised as a qualitative singleplex RT-PCR assay with parallel testing of the target and internal control. The assay results (n = 200) were compared to the COBAS AMPLICOR HCV Test v2.0 assay. The assay demonstrated a high rate of sensitivity (99%), specificity (100%) and an acceptable limit of detection (LOD) of 100 IU/ml. The development of a qualitative multiplex assay for the simultaneous detection of HCV and internal control indicates the same high rates of sensitivity and specificity. This sensitive real-time assay may prove to be a valuable method for the detection of HCV.
Clancy
A
A
Department of Clinical Microbiology, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland. aclancy@stjames.ie
Crowley
B
B
Niesters
H
H
Herra
C
C
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D018104:Distemper Virus, Phocine / Q000235:genetics; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000235:genetics; D012015:Reference Standards; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes