DETECTION OF GB-VIRUS-C BY THE RT-PCR LCX(R) SYSTEM

The recent publication of representative genomic sequences of GBV-C ha s permitted the selection of PCR primers for detection of GBV-C in cli nical samples by PCR techniques. Traditional amplification methodologi es which couple reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PC R) and Southern blot detection are slow, cumbersome, and can be techni que dependent. This has hampered studies to determine the clinical sig nificance of GBV-C. We report the selection of highly conserved PCR pr imers and a probe useful for semi-automated RT-PCR using the Abbott LC x(R) system. This adaptation of the LCx(R) system expands its capabili ties to include the detection of RNA by RT-PCR, in addition to DNA det ection by ligase chain reaction (LCR). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.