Premium
Determination of HCV genotype by direct sequence analysis of quantitative PCR products
Author(s) -
Gargiulo Franco,
De Francesco Maria Antonia,
Pinsi Gabriele,
Pollara Caterina,
Terlenghi Luigina,
Perandin Francesca,
Manca Nino
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.10284
Subject(s) - genotyping , genotype , virology , typing , hepatitis c virus , biology , titer , hepacivirus , virus , gene , genetics
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotyping, combined with quantitative evaluation of HCV RNA, may be beneficial for the management of chronic hepatitis C and in the selection of candidates for interferon treatment. In this study, the COBAS AMPLICOR HCV MONITOR™ test, a commercially available quantitative assay for HCV RNA, was used. Amplification products obtained from HCV‐positive cases were subjected to direct sequencing and genotyping based on seven phylogenetically informative regions within the 5′UTR. Results were compared with those obtained by INNO‐LiPA assay. Typing results yielded by both methods were in complete accordance for type and subtype assignment. Twenty‐nine of 500 specimens (5.8%) were unclassifiable and belonged to samples with a titer of <70.000 IU, as determined by quantitative assay. Despite this limitation, the overall gain in efficiency, the low rate of test failure and a better resolution of mixed genotypes all constitute a considerable advantage of this system over the commercial hybridization technique for routine clinical laboratory use. J. Med. Virol. 69:202–206, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.