title: Detection of hepatitis C virus by an improved loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay.
abstract: An improved, sensitive, specific, and rapid one-step reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay targeting the 5' untranslated region (UTR) was developed to detect hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Based on an accelerating primer (AP), the present assay, named AP-LAMP, has the advantages of rapidity and sensitivity over the routine LAMP method. The possible AP-based amplification pathway during the reaction was revealed by restriction enzyme digestion and eletrophoresis. The detection limit of the AP-LAMP assay was approximately 84 IU/ml, and no cross-detection was observed. The assay was evaluated further with 126 clinical specimens, and the results indicated the suitability and simplicity of the test as a rapid diagnostic tool for detection of HCV RNA.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310022, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Mei-xin
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guo-qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Hang-jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Nan-ping
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013995:Time
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral