Evaluation of Blood Droplet Volumes on the Cobas Plasma Separation Card for HCV RNA Testing in Resource-Limited Settings.

ABSTRACT: Detection of viral RNA is essential for hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnosis. Collection and preservation of plasma, the preferred specimen type, is challenging in some areas. The Cobas Plasma Separation Card (PSC) is an alternative specimen type with no cold chain requirements. The PSC is designed to use capillary blood from fingerstick and capillary tube collection, but alternative sample collection options would broaden PSC utility. This study explored qualitative and quantitative HCV RNA detection with PSC prepared using a syringe needle, compared to plasma. Using a 24-gauge syringe, blood was drawn by venipuncture from HCV antibody-positive clinic patients aged > 18 years and used to prepare plasma or spotted directly onto three PSCs using 6, 8 and 10 drops per spot (group 1) or 8, 10 an

SUBMITTER: Qureshi H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12474196 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature