title: Large scale screening of human sera for HCV RNA and GBV-C RNA.
abstract: North Carolina locates acute HIV cases by pooled nucleic acid testing of HIV-antibody negative serum samples. Here, 224 pools of 80 HIV-negative samples (N = 17,920) were screened for viral RNA from HCV, GBV-C, and influenza A. No evidence of influenza A was found, but HCV and GBV-C were common (1.2% and 1.7% prevalence, respectively), demonstrating the utility of pooled testing in locating individuals that may remain undiagnosed otherwise. By sequencing positive pools, potential transmission clusters may be located as well.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Jessica R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Keys
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Eron
authors.forename: Kelcie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Myra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brinson
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swanstrom
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D029407:GB virus C / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology / Q000379:methods; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: GB virus C; acute HIV infection; emerging pathogens; hepatitis C virus; influenza A; public health