scholarly journals High-Throughput Real-Time Reverse Transcription-PCR Quantitation of Hepatitis C Virus RNA

1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 327-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Martell ◽  
Jordi Gómez ◽  
Juan I. Esteban ◽  
Silvia Sauleda ◽  
Josep Quer ◽  
...  

We describe a rapid and reproducible method for assessment of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) load in serum samples. The method combines Taqman technology (Roche) and the ABI Prism 7700 (Perkin Elmer) real-time sequence detection system. We have optimized a single-tube reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) that contains a dual-labeled fluorogenic probe to quantify the 5′ noncoding region (5′ NCR) of HCV. The probe contains a fluorescent reporter at the 5′ end and a fluorescent quencher at the 3′ end. The use of such a probe combined with the 5′-3′ nuclease activity of Taq polymerase allows direct quantitation of the PCR product by the detection of a fluorescent reporter released in the course of the exponential phase of the PCR. For accurate quantitation of the number of copies of HCV in samples containing unknown quantities, we have used serial dilutions of a synthetic 5′ NCR RNA standard of HCV that was previously quantified with an isotopic tracer. The method has a 5-log dynamic range (103 to 107). The coefficient of regression of the standard curve was, on average, 0.98. The intra-assay and the interassay coefficients of variation of the threshold cycle were 1% and 6.2%, respectively. Seventy-nine RNA samples from the sera of infected patients were quantified by this method. Comparison of the results with those obtained by other quantitation methods (the Quantiplex 2.0 branched-DNA assay and the Superquant assay from the National Genetics Institute) revealed a significant correlation with all of the results. The mean values were also statistically comparable. In conclusion, the high sensitivity, simplicity, and reproducibility of the real-time HCV RNA quantitation which allows the screening of large numbers of samples, combined with its wide dynamic range, make this method especially suitable for monitoring of the viral load during therapy and tailoring of treatment schedules.

2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (11) ◽  
pp. 4171-4179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung C. Lee ◽  
Anisha Antony ◽  
Nitta Lee ◽  
Jeff Leibow ◽  
Jian Q. Yang ◽  
...  

Version 2.0 qualitative and quantitative AMPLICOR reverse transcription-PCR tests for HCV were designed to improve on the performance of first version of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) tests. The new tests were calibrated in international units, the new commonly accepted standard unit of measurement for HCV RNA. The sensitivity of the qualitative tests was enhanced by modifying the specimen processing procedure to achieve a limit of detection 50 IU/ml. The limit of detection for the quantitative tests was 600 IU/ml. Modifications to the amplification reaction mixture and thermal cycling conditions enabled all genotypes to be amplified with similar efficiency. The quantitative tests exhibited a linear range extending from 500 to 500,000 IU/ml and excellent reproducibility, with coefficients of variation ranging from 18 to 39%, within the linear range. These data indicate that the version 2.0 AMPLICOR HCV tests will improve diagnosis of HCV infection and will yield more-accurate titers for prognosis and for monitoring therapeutic efficacy, particularly at low viral loads. Furthermore, it will be possible to compare the performance characteristics and viral load measurements of AMPLICOR tests to those of other tests that adopt the international unit as the standard of measurement.


2003 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 503-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regina Moreira ◽  
João Renato Rebello Pinho ◽  
Jorge Fares ◽  
Isabel Takano Oba ◽  
Maria Regina Cardoso ◽  
...  

The aims of this study were to (i) evaluate the prevalence and the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in hemodialysis patients in two different centers in São Paulo (Brazil), (ii) determine the time required to detect HCV infection among these patients by serology or PCR, (iii) establish the importance of alanine aminotransferase determination as a marker of HCV infection, and (iv) identify the HCV genotypes in this population. Serum samples were collected monthly for 1 year from 281 patients admitted to hospital for hemodialysis. Out of 281 patients, 41 patients (14.6%) were HCV positive; six patients seroconverted during this study (incidence = 3.1/1000 person-month). In 1.8% (5/281) of cases, RNA was detected before the appearance of antibodies (up to 5 months), and in 1.1% (3/281) of cases, RNA was the unique marker of HCV infection. The genotypes found were 1a, 1b, 3a, and 4a. The presence of genotype 4a is noteworthy, since it is a rare genotype in Brazil. These data pointed out the high prevalence and incidence of HCV infection at hemodialysis centers in Brazil and showed that routine PCR is fundamental for improving the detection of HCV carriers among patients undergoing hemodialysis.Key words: HCV genotypes, hemodialysis, hepatitis C, PCR, prevalence, incidence.


Author(s):  
Eric M. Katz ◽  
Mathew D. Esona ◽  
Rashi Gautam ◽  
Michael D. Bowen

Since 2013, group A rotavirus strains characterized as novel DS-1-like inter-genogroup reassortant ‘equine-like G3’ strains have emerged and spread across five continents among human populations in at least 14 countries. Here we report a novel one-step TaqMan quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR assay developed to genotype and quantify the viral load for samples containing rotavirus equine-like G3 strains. Using a universal G forward primer and a newly designed reverse primer and TaqMan probe, we developed and validated an assay with a linear dynamic range of 2.3 × 10 9 – 227 copies per reaction and a limit of detection of 227 copies. The percent positive agreement, percent negative agreement, and precision of our assay were 100.00%, 99.63%, and 100.00%, respectively. This assay can simultaneously detect and quantify the viral load for samples containing DS-1-like inter-genogroup reassortant equine-like G3 strains with high sensitivity and specificity, faster turnaround time, and decreased cost and will be valuable for high-throughput screening of stool samples collected to monitor equine-like G3 strain prevalence and circulation among human populations throughout the world.


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