Findings from University of Paris broaden understanding of hepatitis C virus
2009 JUL 13 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to recent research published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, "Quantification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA is essential for the everyday management of chronic hepatitis C therapy. ''Real-time'' PCR techniques are potentially more sensitive than classical PCR techniques, are not prone to carryover contamination, and have a consistently wider dynamic range of quantification. Thus, they are rapidly replacing other technologies for routine quantification of HCV RNA." "We extensively evaluated the intrinsic characteristics and clinical performance of the m2000(sp)-m2000(rt) Abbott real-time PCR platform for HCV RNA quantification. The study shows that the m2000(sp)-m2000(rt) platform is sensitive, specific, and precise; that the results are reproducible; and that the platform has a broad dynamic range of quantification. When comparing HCV RNA levels measured in the same individuals with the m2000(sp)-m2000(rt) platform and the third-generation branched-DNA assay, a trend toward a modest overestimation of HCV RNA levels was observed in the m2000(sp)-m2000(rt) platform in all genotypes except genotype 5. The differences, however, were unlikely to have any impact in clinical practice," wrote S. Chevaliez and colleagues, University of Paris. The researchers concluded: "Our study shows that the Abbott m2000 real-time PCR system for HCV RNA quantification is sensitive, specific, and precise; that the results are reproducible; and that the platform's broad dynamic range of quantification is well suited to HCV RNA monitoring in the clinical setting." Chevaliez and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology (Performance of the Abbott Real-Time PCR Assay Using m2000(Sp) and m2000(Rt) for Hepatitis C Virus RNA Quantification. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2009;47(6):1726-1732). For additional information, contact J.M. Pawlotsky, University of Paris, Hopital Henri Mondor, Dept. of Virology, French National Reference Center Viral Hepatitis BC & De, 51 Avenue Marechal Lattre Tassigny, F-94010 Creteil, France. The publisher's contact information for the Journal of Clinical Microbiology is: American Society Microbiology, 1752 N St. NW, Washington, DC 20036-2904, USA. Keywords: France, Creteil, Chronic Hepatitis C, Clinical Microbiology, Gastroenterology, HCV, Hepatitis C Virus, Hepatology, Infectious Disease, Therapy, Treatment, Virology, University of Paris. This article was prepared by Hepatitis Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Hepatitis Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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