title: Evaluation of hepatitis C virus RNA stability in room temperature and multiple freeze-thaw cycles by COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HCV.
abstract: To assess the stability of various sample types and storage conditions for quantitative detectability of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA viral loads, we studied serum and EDTA/citrate plasma samples obtained from 10 patients known to be positive for HCV RNA. Samples were subjected to the following conditions: 1) 10 freeze-thaw (FT) cycles, and 2) storage at room temperature for 24, 48, and 72 h. Detection of HCV RNA was performed by COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HCV. The following conclusions were reached: 1) no significantly different viral loads were observed in different blood compartments; 2) no significantly different viral loads were observed after 24, 48, and 72 h at room temperature; 3) no significantly different viral loads were observed after 10 FT cycles in serum and plasma samples; and 4) HCV RNA is quite stable in serum and plasma (EDTA/citrate) samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey. fusbeg@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Fusun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Comert
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aktas
authors.forename: H Agah
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Terzi
authors.forename: Canan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kulah
authors.forename: Yucel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ustundag
authors.forename: Furuzan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kokturk
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aydemir
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005615:Freezing; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020871:RNA Stability; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature; D019562:Viral Load / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral