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Journal of Virological Methods
Volume 140, Issues 1-2, March 2007, Pages 218-221
 
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doi:10.1016/j.jviromet.2006.11.006    How to Cite or Link Using DOI (Opens New Window)
Copyright © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Short communication

Twenty-four mini-pool HCV RNA screening outside a blood transfusion setting: Results of a 2-year prospective studystar, open

Katja Semea, E-mail The Corresponding Author, Tina Močilnika, E-mail The Corresponding Author, Kristina Fujsa, E-mail The Corresponding Author, Dunja Z. Babiča, E-mail The Corresponding Author, Aleksandra Todorovićb, E-mail The Corresponding Author, Tamara Fras-Stefanb, E-mail The Corresponding Author and MarioPoljaka, Corresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author

aInstitute of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

bPrimary Health Care Center, Metelkova 9, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia


Received 29 August 2006; 
revised 2 November 2006; 
accepted 8 November 2006. 
Available online 8 December 2006.

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Abstract

The usefulness of 24 mini-pool hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA screening was evaluated in a 2-year prospective study carried out on a total of 6432 consecutive anti-HCV negative specimens in a routine diagnostic laboratory setting. A total of 268 mini-pools were tested using an automated commercial PCR assay for qualitative detection of HCV RNA, with a lower limit of detection of 50 IU/ml. Eighteen (0.28%) anti-HCV negative/HCV RNA positive serum samples obtained from 12 patients (all intravenous drug users), were detected. Ten patients responded to an invitation for follow-up testing. Five, three and one patient seroconverted in the first, second and third follow-up sample, respectively. One patient had not seroconverted by the end of the study period. The interval between the first HCV RNA positive sample and the first anti-HCV positive samples was 24–192 days. The costs of detecting a single anti-HCV negative/HCV RNA positive sample and a single anti-HCV negative/HCV RNA positive patient using the 24 mini-pool HCV RNA screening strategy were estimated to be around €643 and 965, respectively. It was shown that screening for HCV infection using the 24 mini-pool HCV RNA screening strategy can also be both useful and cost effective outside a blood transfusion setting.

Keywords: Hepatitis C; HCV; PCR; Screening; Intravenous drug users

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