title: Stability of hepatitis C virus RNA in blood samples by TaqMan real-time PCR.
abstract: The storage conditions of blood samples for reliable results are very important in hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA amplification tests used in routine HCV analyses. According to many studies, storage conditions could affect the RNA stability for HCV RNA detection. We have studied HCV RNA stability in blood samples stored at 4 degrees C. Nineteen blood samples containing different HCV RNA levels were stored at 4 degrees C and they were then analyzed by TaqMAN real-time PCR method. HCV RNA levels remained almost stable (100%) at least for five weeks at this storage condition. However, among them, the stability period was up to 11 weeks in two of the samples. As with these findings, there was a slightly significant correlation between the positivity time and the beginning HCV RNA levels (r=0.474, P=0.040). We conclude that, blood samples can be stored at 4 degrees C for five weeks without any significant difference in detected HCV RNA level by using TaqMan real-time PCR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. tabipks@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kenan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sener
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yapar
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bedir
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gül
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: Ayhan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kubar
mesh_terms: D001769:Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D020871:RNA Stability; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012034:Refrigeration; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral