HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-RNA LEVELS DETERMINED BY BRANCHED DNA-PROBE ASSAY CORRELATED WITH LEVELS ASSESSED USING COMPETITIVE PCR

Objective: To search for comparative differences, levels of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA were examined by branched DNA (bDNA) probe assay and by competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods: The study po pulation included 234 patients (chronic hepatitis 146, cirrhosis 36, h epatocellular carcinoma 52), all of whom were positive for HCV RNA, as determined by PCR. We quantified HCV RNA levels of all serum samples by both bDNA probe and competitive PCR. Results: HCV RNA was detected in serum samples by bDNA assay in 142 (60.7%) of the 234 patients; thi s rate was significantly higher in 106 (73.6%) of the 144 patients of genotype II than in 20 (41.7%) of 48 of genotype III and in 16 (38.1%) of 42 of genotype IV (p < 0.001, respectively). The median HCV RNA le vels by bDNA assay (x 10(6) eq/ml) were 0.1, 0.1, 0.4, 1.4, and 5.3 am ong patients with HCV RNA levels < 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, respectively, by competitive PCR (logarithmic transformation copy numbers/50 mu l). A significant correlation was found between HCV RNA levels by bDNA and c ompetitive PCR (r = 0.5747, p < 0.001). There was a correlation among patients of genotype II and genotype III but not genotype IV. Conclusi on: We recommend bDNA assay for use in clinical practice because the p rocedure is not difficult and is less contamination-prone, The HCV RNA levels determined using this assay correlated with those examined by competitive PCR.