Reliability of polymerase chain reaction for detection of hepatitis C virus

H. L. Zaaijer; H. T. Cuypers; H. W. Reesink; I. N. Winkel; G. Gerken; P. N. Lelie

doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(93)90488-3

Reliability of polymerase chain reaction for detection of hepatitis C virus

H. L. Zaaijer, H. T. Cuypers, H. W. Reesink, I. N. Winkel, G. Gerken, P. N. Lelie

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Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/Letter to the editor › Academic

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Abstract

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to detect hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA, and the results of this assay may have a bearing on management of patients. We tested 31 laboratories for performance of HCV PCR with a coded panel that comprised 4 HCV-positive plasma samples, 6 HCV-negative samples, and two dilution series of HCV-positive plasma. 15 (48%) laboratories had faultless results with both dilution series, and 16 (52%) laboratories reported erroneous results with one or both series. 10 (32%) laboratories had faultless results when testing undiluted plasma samples, 11 (35%) produced a false-negative result with a weak-positive sample, and 10 (32%) produced false negative and/or false positive results. Only 5 (16%) laboratories performed faultlessly with the entire panel of samples. Reports of presence of HCV should be interpreted with care until reliable HCV-RNA detection becomes widely available

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	722-724
Journal	Lancet
Volume	341
Issue number	8847
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(93)90488-3
Publication status	Published - 1993

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https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(93)90488-3

Cite this

@article{e045c870d5004b678be1a4a44e1e3efb,

title = "Reliability of polymerase chain reaction for detection of hepatitis C virus",

abstract = "The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to detect hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA, and the results of this assay may have a bearing on management of patients. We tested 31 laboratories for performance of HCV PCR with a coded panel that comprised 4 HCV-positive plasma samples, 6 HCV-negative samples, and two dilution series of HCV-positive plasma. 15 (48%) laboratories had faultless results with both dilution series, and 16 (52%) laboratories reported erroneous results with one or both series. 10 (32%) laboratories had faultless results when testing undiluted plasma samples, 11 (35%) produced a false-negative result with a weak-positive sample, and 10 (32%) produced false negative and/or false positive results. Only 5 (16%) laboratories performed faultlessly with the entire panel of samples. Reports of presence of HCV should be interpreted with care until reliable HCV-RNA detection becomes widely available",

author = "Zaaijer, {H. L.} and Cuypers, {H. T.} and Reesink, {H. W.} and Winkel, {I. N.} and G. Gerken and Lelie, {P. N.}",

year = "1993",

doi = "https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(93)90488-3",

language = "English",

volume = "341",

pages = "722--724",

journal = "Lancet",

issn = "0140-6736",

publisher = "Elsevier Limited",

number = "8847",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Reliability of polymerase chain reaction for detection of hepatitis C virus

AU - Zaaijer, H. L.

AU - Cuypers, H. T.

AU - Reesink, H. W.

AU - Winkel, I. N.

AU - Gerken, G.

AU - Lelie, P. N.

PY - 1993

Y1 - 1993

N2 - The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to detect hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA, and the results of this assay may have a bearing on management of patients. We tested 31 laboratories for performance of HCV PCR with a coded panel that comprised 4 HCV-positive plasma samples, 6 HCV-negative samples, and two dilution series of HCV-positive plasma. 15 (48%) laboratories had faultless results with both dilution series, and 16 (52%) laboratories reported erroneous results with one or both series. 10 (32%) laboratories had faultless results when testing undiluted plasma samples, 11 (35%) produced a false-negative result with a weak-positive sample, and 10 (32%) produced false negative and/or false positive results. Only 5 (16%) laboratories performed faultlessly with the entire panel of samples. Reports of presence of HCV should be interpreted with care until reliable HCV-RNA detection becomes widely available

AB - The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to detect hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA, and the results of this assay may have a bearing on management of patients. We tested 31 laboratories for performance of HCV PCR with a coded panel that comprised 4 HCV-positive plasma samples, 6 HCV-negative samples, and two dilution series of HCV-positive plasma. 15 (48%) laboratories had faultless results with both dilution series, and 16 (52%) laboratories reported erroneous results with one or both series. 10 (32%) laboratories had faultless results when testing undiluted plasma samples, 11 (35%) produced a false-negative result with a weak-positive sample, and 10 (32%) produced false negative and/or false positive results. Only 5 (16%) laboratories performed faultlessly with the entire panel of samples. Reports of presence of HCV should be interpreted with care until reliable HCV-RNA detection becomes widely available

U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(93)90488-3

DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(93)90488-3

M3 - Comment/Letter to the editor

C2 - 8095626

SN - 0140-6736

VL - 341

SP - 722

EP - 724

JO - Lancet

JF - Lancet

IS - 8847

ER -