title: HCV RNA Testing of Plasma Samples from Cornea Donors: Suitability of Plasma Samples Stored at 4 °C for up to 8 Days.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The HCV RNA testing of potential cornea donors frequently relies on blood samples stored pre mortem. The recommended storage time of maximum 72 h frequently excludes a significant fraction of donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The influence of storage time of EDTA plasma samples at 4 °C on the viral load measured with the Roche HCV Quantitative Test vs. 2.0 was evaluated for 43 samples from HCV-positive individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean reduction of the viral load after 4 °C storage for 6-8 days was 0.46 log10IU/ml (range +0.17 to -1.66 log10IU/ml). After 1-3 days a mean loss of 0.19 log10IU/ml (range +0.30 to -1.41 log10IU/ml) and after 3-5 days of 0.32 log10IU/ml (range +0.36 to -1.81 log10IU/ml) was observed. In 23.3% of samples, a viral load reduction ≥ 1 log10IU/ml (1.0-1.81 log10IU/ml) was found after prolonged storage (5-8 days). In none of the samples did the HCV load fall below the detection limit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma storage for up to 8 days can quantitatively reduce the HCV RNA load, yet has no influence on the reliability of a qualitative HCV RNA detection by this ultrasensitive test to determine the HCV status of serologically negative cornea donors.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Virology, Hospital of the Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt/M., Germany.
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salla
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Virology, Hospital of the Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt/M., Germany; Max von Pettenkofer-Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Keppler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Virology, Hospital of the Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt/M., Germany.
authors.forename: Holger F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Rabenau
keywords: Cornea donor testing; HCV-PCR; Prolonged sample storage at 4 °C