El Sharkawi Fathia Zaky, Chudy Michael, Hanschmann Kay-Martin, Kress Julia, Nübling C Micha
Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Ein Helwan, Cairo, Egypt.
J Med Virol. 2008 Dec;80(12):2086-91. doi: 10.1002/jmv.21325.
Different quantitative assays for HCV-RNA are available that report test results in International Units (IU)/ml based on the WHO International Standard. Thus, assays have been calibrated with standard material containing HCV genotype 1, so the consistency of quantitation might differ between assays for other HCV genotypes. Three commercial HCV nucleic acid amplification techniques (HCV-NAT) were compared for quantitation consistency of genotype 4 and 1 specimens from an Egyptian blood donor panel (n = 92). Consistency of quantitation between HCV-NATs was higher for genotype 1 than for genotype 4. Most quantitative results reported by the assays were in the same range, but some genotype 4 samples were missed by two of the assays. The Abbott assay showed higher concentrations for genotype 4 than the two Roche assays. Follow-up investigations of individuals should use the same assay unless another assay has been validated properly. Standardization of HCV-NAT assays remains an issue.
