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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 2001, p. 1788-1790, Vol. 39, No. 5
0095-1137/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/JCM.39.5.1788-1790.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Effects of Storage and Type of Blood Collection Tubes on Hepatitis C Virus Level in Whole Blood Samples

Harald H. Kessler,^1,* Evelyn Stelzl,¹ Reinhard B. Raggam,¹ Josef Haas,² Franz Kirchmeir,³ Karin Hegenbarth,⁴ Elisabeth Daghofer,¹ Brigitte I. Santner,¹ Egon Marth,¹ and Rudolf E. Stauber⁴

Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Institute of Hygiene, Karl-Franzens-University Graz, A-8010 Graz,¹ Biometry Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,² and Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine,⁴ Karl-Franzens-University Graz, A-8036, Graz, and greiner bio-one GmbH, A-4550 Kremsmünster,³ Austria

Received 15 November 2000/Returned for modification 27 November 2000/Accepted 19 February 2001

In this study, we compared serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA concentrations with HCV RNA concentrations in whole blood collection tubes, including two different types of EDTA tubes and nucleic acid stabilization tubes (NASTs). We also investigated the impact of a processing delay on HCV RNA concentration in these tubes. In NASTs, the mean HCV RNA concentration was comparable to the mean serum HCV RNA concentration at "date zero." In EDTA tubes, mean baseline HCV RNA concentrations were higher. Storage at room temperature up to 96 h did not result in a decline of HCV RNA concentration in any of the whole blood collection tubes. In NASTs, HCV RNA concentrations remained stable during the whole study period, whereas a significant increase of HCV RNA was observed in both types of EDTA tubes at 96 h compared to date zero. We concluded that HCV RNA remains stable in NASTs at room temperature for at least 96 h, allowing greater flexibility in sample collection and transport.

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^* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Institute of Hygiene, KF-University Graz, Universitætsplatz 4, A-8010 Graz, Austria. Phone: 43(316) 380-4363. Fax: 43(316) 380-9649. Electronic mail address: harald.kessler{at}uni-graz.at.

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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 2001, p. 1788-1790, Vol. 39, No. 5
0095-1137/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/JCM.39.5.1788-1790.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

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