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• Application of dried blood spot testing for hepatitis C virus RNA ‎amplification;

Egyptian Jornal of Medical ‎Microbiology • 2013
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Publication Information
Authors Nehad A.Fouad, Ahmed W. Mahedy, Sheref M. El-‎taher
Keywords Not Available
Journal Egyptian Jornal of Medical ‎Microbiology
Publisher Not Available
Volume 22
Issue 1
Pages Not Available
publication.type International
Paper Link Not Available
Supplementary Materials Not Available
Abstract
Background/Aim‏:‏‎ Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection represent a major public health problem ‎because of the ability of HCV to cause a chronic carrier state. Even though chronic carriers ‎remain largely asymptomatic, a large number of these individuals subsequently develop cirrhosis ‎and primary hepatocellular carcinomas. Dried Blood Spot (DBS) samples are a simple and ‎inexpensive sampling method, especially useful for blood collection in resource poor settings with ‎limited access to diagnostic facilities. The main advantage of DBS samples over routine blood ‎samples is that only a small quantity of blood is required, easy to obtain, stable and can be ‎transported to a reference laboratory at minimal cost. The Aim of the work was to evaluate the ‎feasibility of DBS samples as an alternative sample type to serum for the detection of HCV ‎RNA. Results obtained from DBS samples were compared with results of serum using the same ‎technique. Methods: This study was carried out on 50 anti-HCV–positive serum samples, from ‎patients whom attending Arar Central Hospital and Prince Hospital, Arar, kingdom of Saudi ‎Arabia., during November 2011 to February 2012. . Results: .HCV RNA was detected in 49/50 ‎‎(98%) of the DBS samples, with Sensitivity 98% and Specificity 100 %, in comparisons to serum ‎samples. Also there was no statistical significant difference in hepatitis C viral load between the ‎two different samples among the patients. We demonstrated that there is no statistical significant ‎different between the two samples when viral load is both less than and also more than 100000 ‎IU. Concluded that the use of DBS for extraction and amplification of HCV RNA was reliable, ‎specific, sensitive, cheap and appropriate method to monitor the HCV infected patients.‎