Bogard M, Buffet-Janvresse C, Cantaloube J F, Biagini P, Duverlie G, Castelain S, Izopet J, Dubois M, Defer C, Lepot I, Coste J, Marcellin P, Martinot-Peignoux M, Halfon P, Gerolami V, Frangeul L, Pawlotsky J M, Roudot-Thoraval F, Dussaix E, Loiseau P, Ravera N, Lewin P, Lamoril J, Lerable J, Lebon P
Centre Hospitalier, Meaux, France.
J Clin Microbiol. 1997 Dec;35(12):3298-300. doi: 10.1128/jcm.35.12.3298-3300.1997.
PCR is, to date, the only available tool for the detection of GB virus C (GBV-C) and hepatitis G virus (HGV) RNAs. Twenty-two French laboratories participated in a quality control study to assess the sensitivity and specificity of their procedures. The panel included 13 positive controls and 7 negative controls. The laboratories used either in-house PCR techniques adapted from the literature or partly standardized commercial tests. Three laboratories performed faultlessly with the entire panel. Most laboratories had excellent specificity (100% in 20 of 22 laboratories). Sensitivity was acceptable (85 to 100%) in 15 centers and insufficient (38 to 77%) in 7. As with nonstandardized in-house PCR, the commercial assays gave discrepant performances in different laboratories. These results suggest that laboratories willing to use PCR for detection of GBV-C/HGV RNA for research or diagnostic purposes should participate in multicenter quality control trials.
聚合酶链反应（PCR）是目前检测GB病毒C型（GBV-C）和庚型肝炎病毒（HGV）RNA的唯一可用工具。22个法国实验室参与了一项质量控制研究，以评估其检测程序的敏感性和特异性。该样本包括13个阳性对照和7个阴性对照。实验室使用的要么是根据文献改编的内部PCR技术，要么是部分标准化的商业检测方法。有3个实验室在整个样本检测中表现完美。大多数实验室具有出色的特异性（22个实验室中有20个特异性为100%）。15个中心的敏感性可以接受（85%至100%），7个中心的敏感性不足（38%至77%）。与未标准化的内部PCR一样，商业检测方法在不同实验室的表现也存在差异。这些结果表明，愿意将PCR用于GBV-C/HGV RNA检测以进行研究或诊断的实验室应参与多中心质量控制试验。
