GEMHEP MULTICENTER QUALITY-CONTROL STUDY OF PCR DETECTION OF GB-VIRUS-C HEPATITIS-G VIRUS-RNA IN SERUM

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 laborat ories participated in a quality control study to assess the sensitivit y and specificity of their procedures. The panel included 13 positive controls and 7 negative controls. The laboratories used either in-hous e PCR techniques adapted from the literature or partly standardized co mmercial tests, Three laboratories performed faultlessly with the enti re panel. Most laboratories had excellent specificity (100% in 20 of 2 2 laboratories), Sensitivity was acceptable (85 to 100%) in 15 centers and insufficient (38 to 77%) in 7, As with nonstandardized in-house P CR, the commercial assays gave discrepant performances in different la boratories. These results suggest that laboratories willing to use PCR for detection of GBV-C/HGV RNA for research or diagnostic purposes sh ould participate in multicenter quality control trials.