Evaluation of dried blood spot as an alternative sample collection method for hepatitis C virus RNA quantitation and genotyping using a commercial system.

ABSTRACT: Dried blood spot (DBS) is a minimally invasive sampling method suitable for sample collection, storage and transportation in resource limited areas. Aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic utility of DBS with plasma sample for HCV RNA quantitation and genotyping using commercial systems. Plasma and DBS card spotted samples were collected from 95 HCV seropositive patients. Both types of samples were subjected to HCV RNA by real-time PCR (Abbott m2000rt, USA). Genotyping was performed using Abbott HCV genotype II kit (Abbott diagnostics, USA) in samples with viral load > 3 log₁₀ IU/ml. In both plasma and DBS, 14 (14.7%) samples were negative and 81 (85.3%) were positive for HCV RNA. Median viral load in plasma (3.78; range 0-7.43) log₁₀ IU/ml was comparable to D

SUBMITTER: Mahajan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6003055 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature