Optimization of one-step real-time PCR for the X-tail target of HCV as a diagnostic test

• Main Authors: Franciéli Pedrotti Rozales, Fernada de-Paris, Alice Beatriz Mombach Pinheiro Machado, Cintia Costi, Afonso Luis Barth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre ; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) 2014-07-01
• Series: Clinical and Biomedical Research
• Subjects: HCV; Diagnostic test; X-tail; Acute disease
• Online Access: http://seer.ufrgs.br/hcpa/article/view/46502
• ISSN: 0101-5575; 2357-9730

Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a global public health issue. The bloodborne nature of HCV transmission poses a substantial risk to healthcare workers, due to occupational exposure to needlestick injuries and blood and other body fluids containing the virus. Undiagnosed HCV infection, including in healthcare workers, represents a growing problem worldwide as the infected population ages, and HCV-related mortality and morbidity is expected to rise substantially over the coming decades. Consequently, diagnostic tests for HCV play an important role in this scenario. The aim of this study was to standardize a one-step RT-PCR assay for detection of HCV. The test demonstrated reproducibility, sensibility (100%), and the limit of detection was set at 100IU/mL. Our study indicates that this assay can be used as a diagnostic tool to follow up healthcare workers after occupational exposure.