This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hawkins, A. Articles by Simmonds, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hawkins, A. Articles by Simmonds, P.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Jan 1997, 187-192, Vol 35, No. 1
Copyright © 1997 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Comparison of plasma virus loads among individuals infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1, 2, and 3 by quantiplex HCV RNA assay versions 1 and 2, Roche Monitor assay, and an in-house limiting dilution method

A Hawkins, F Davidson and P Simmonds
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

The accuracy of different methods for the quantitation of hepatitis C virus in plasma was measured with samples from individuals infected with different genotypes and by using RNA transcripts of predetermined concentrations. Highly reproducible results were observed upon repeat testing of samples by both the original version of the Chiron branched- DNA (bDNA) assay (Quantiplex RNA assay; bDNA-1) and the currently available version (Quantiplex HCV RNA 2.0 assay; bDNA-2). A greater variability was observed in the Roche Monitor assay (correlation coefficient of 0.537, compared with 0.942 and 0.964 for the bDNA-1 and bDNA-2 assays, respectively). Significant differences in the efficiency of detection of genotypes 1, 2, and 3 were observed for the bDNA-1 and Roche Monitor assays, whereas the bDNA-2 assay and nested PCR at limiting dilution were able to quantify genotypes with equal sensitivity. By quantifying RNA transcripts of different genotypes, the sensitivities of the Roche Monitor assay for sequences of the type 2 and type 3 transcripts were estimated to be 11 and 8% of those achieved for genotype 1. When correction factors based upon these results and those from quantitation of circulating viral RNA sequences in samples from blood donors were used, the genotype-specific differences in virus load in samples from blood donors were no longer observed, consistent with previous studies with corrected values from the bDNA-1 assay. These results suggest that many of the previous studies evaluating the effect of genotype and virus load on the response to interferon using methods such as the Roche Monitor assay and other competitive PCR methods require reinterpretation. Differences in efficiency of quantitation should be taken into account in future investigations of the relationship between genotype and virus load.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Liu, Y., Hussain, M., Wong, S., Fung, S. K., Yim, H. J., Lok, A. S. F. (2007). A Genotype-Independent Real-Time PCR Assay for Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA. J. Clin. Microbiol. 45: 553-558 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Candotti, D., Temple, J., Sarkodie, F., Allain, J.-P. (2003). Frequent Recovery and Broad Genotype 2 Diversity Characterize Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Ghana, West Africa. J. Virol. 77: 7914-7923 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Quarleri, J. F., Bussy, M. V., Mathet, V. L., Ruiz, V., Iacono, R., Lu, L., Robertson, B. H., Oubina, J. R. (2003). In Vitro Detection of Dissimilar Amounts of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Subtype-Specific RNA Genomes in Mixes Prepared from Sera of Persons Infected with a Single HCV Genotype. J. Clin. Microbiol. 41: 2727-2733 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Germer, J. J., Heimgartner, P. J., Ilstrup, D. M., Harmsen, W. S., Jenkins, G. D., Patel, R. (2002). Comparative Evaluation of the VERSANT HCV RNA 3.0, QUANTIPLEX HCV RNA 2.0, and COBAS AMPLICOR HCV MONITOR Version 2.0 Assays for Quantification of Hepatitis C Virus RNA in Serum. J. Clin. Microbiol. 40: 495-500 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Yu, M.-L., Chuang, W.-L., Dai, C.-Y., Chen, S.-C., Lin, Z.-Y., Hsieh, M.-Y., Wang, L.-Y., Chang, W.-Y. (2000). Clinical Evaluation of the Automated COBAS AMPLICOR HCV MONITOR Test Version 2.0 for Quantifying Serum Hepatitis C Virus RNA and Comparison to the Quantiplex HCV Version 2.0 Test. J. Clin. Microbiol. 38: 2933-2939 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Martinot-Peignoux, M., Le Breton, V., Fritsch, S., Le guludec, G., Labouret, N., Keller, F., Marcellin, P. (2000). Assessment of Viral Loads in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C with AMPLICOR HCV MONITOR Version 1.0, COBAS HCV MONITOR Version 2.0, and QUANTIPLEX HCV RNA Version 2.0 Assays. J. Clin. Microbiol. 38: 2722-2725 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Read, S. J, Burnett, D., Fink, C. G (2000). Molecular techniques for clinical diagnostic virology. J. Clin. Pathol. 53: 502-506 [Full Text]  
• Gerken, G., Rothaar, T., Rumi, M. G., Soffredini, R., Trippler, M., Blunk, M. J., Butcher, A., Soviero, S., Colucci, G. (2000). Performance of the COBAS AMPLICOR HCV MONITOR Test, Version 2.0, an Automated Reverse Transcription-PCR Quantitative System for Hepatitis C Virus Load Determination. J. Clin. Microbiol. 38: 2210-2214 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Zein, N. N. (2000). Clinical Significance of Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 13: 223-235 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hofgärtner, W. T., Kant, J. A., Weck, K. E. (2000). Hepatitis C Virus Quantitation: Optimization of Strategies for Detecting Low-Level Viremia. J. Clin. Microbiol. 38: 888-891 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• WalkerPeach, C. R., Winkler, M., DuBois, D. B., Pasloske, B. L. (1999). Ribonuclease-resistant RNA Controls (Armored RNA) for Reverse Transcription-PCR, Branched DNA, and Genotyping Assays for Hepatitis C Virus. Clin. Chem. 45: 2079-2085 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• BONACINI, M, REDEKER;, A G, HAYDON, G H (1999). Intrahepatic HCV levels in chronic HCV infection • Reply. Gut 45: 630a-630 [Full Text]  
• Mellor, J., Hawkins, A., Simmonds, P. (1999). Genotype Dependence of Hepatitis C Virus Load Measurement in Commercially Available Quantitative Assays. J. Clin. Microbiol. 37: 2525-2532 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Aoyagi, K., Ohue, C., Iida, K., Kimura, T., Tanaka, E., Kiyosawa, K., Yagi, S. (1999). Development of a Simple and Highly Sensitive Enzyme Immunoassay for Hepatitis C Virus Core Antigen. J. Clin. Microbiol. 37: 1802-1808 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Paul, I. M., Sanders, J., Ruggiero, F., Andrews, T., Ungar, D., Eyster, M. E. (1999). Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infections in Leukemia Survivors: Prevalence, Viral Load, and Severity of Liver Disease. Blood 93: 3672-3677 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Davis, G. L., Esteban-Mur, R., Rustgi, V., Hoefs, J., Gordon, S. C., Trepo, C., Shiffman, M. L., Zeuzem, S., Craxi, A., Ling, M.-H., Albrecht, J., The International Hepatitis Interventional Therapy, (1998). Interferon Alfa-2b Alone or in Combination with Ribavirin for the Treatment of Relapse of Chronic Hepatitis C. NEJM 339: 1493-1499 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Resti, M., Azzari, C., Mannelli, F., Moriondo, M., Novembre, E., de Martino, M., Vierucci, A., Tuscany Study Group on Hepatitis C Virus Infection, , Resti, M., Azzari, C., Mannelli, F., Moriondo, M., Novembre, E., de Martino, M., Vierucci, A., Tuscany Study Group on Hepatitis C Virus Infection, (1998). Mother to child transmission of hepatitis C virus: prospective study of risk factors and timing of infection in children born to women seronegative for HIV-1 • Science commentary: Behaviour of hepatitis C virus. BMJ 317: 437-441 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Sreevatsan, S., Bookout, J. B., Ringpis, F. M., Pottathil, M. R., Marshall, D. J., De Arruda, M., Murvine, C., Fors, L., Pottathil, R. M., Barathur, R. R. (1998). Algorithmic Approach to High-Throughput Molecular Screening for Alpha Interferon-Resistant Genotypes in Hepatitis C Patients. J. Clin. Microbiol. 36: 1895-1901 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• BERENGUER, M, WRIGHT, T L (1998). Is the hepatocyte a Trojan horse for hepatitis C virus?. Gut 42: 456-458 [Full Text]  
• Haydon, G H, Jarvis, L M, Blair, C S, Simmonds, P, Harrison, D J, Simpson, K J, Hayes, P C (1998). Clinical significance of intrahepatic hepatitis C virus levels in patients with chronic HCV infection. Gut 42: 570-575 [Abstract] [Full Text]