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  • Title: Quantification of hepatitis C virus RNA by RT-PCR in comparison to the branched DNA method.
    Author: Roth WK, Lee JH, Rüster B, Zeuzem S.
    Journal: Z Gastroenterol; 1998 Jan; 36(1):5-11. PubMed ID: 9531684.
    Abstract:
    INTRODUCTION: Quantification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) serum viremia levels is an important measure to predict and monitor response to interferon-alpha therapy as well as to predict clinical outcome. We were interested to compare the most widely used HCV quantification methods, quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) and the branched DNA (bDNA) method, with respect to sensitivity and reliability. RESULTS: In the present study, 101 serum samples from patients chronically infected with HCV were simultaneously quantified by an in-house reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR assay and the branched DNA Quantiplex HCV RNA kit 1.0 and 2.0. The concentration of HCV RNA molecules/ml serum ranged from 1.5 x 10(4) to 1.0 x 10(8) as assessed by our quantitative (q)RT-PCR. Serum concentrations of HCV-genotype 1 were significantly higher when measured with bDNA 1.0 compared to bDNA 2.0 and qRT-PCR, whereas measurements by qRT-PCR and bDNA 2.0 were concordant. Measurements of genotypes 2 and 3 by bDNA 2.0 were significantly higher than by bDNA 1.0. Significantly lower measurements were obtained for genotype 3 by qRT-PCR in comparison to bDNA 2.0. CONCLUSION: Despite subtype-specific differences, there is clinically sufficient agreement in measurements between qRT-PCR and bDNA of HCV RNA concentrations. However, with respect to the therapeutic monitoring of the individual patient, kits and methods should not be exchanged.
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