GEMHEP multicenter quality control study of PCR detection of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus RNA in serum

• Published in: Journal of clinical microbiology Vol. 35; no. 12; pp. 3298 - 3300
• Main Authors: Bogard, Marc, Buffet-Janvresse, Claudine, Cantaloube, Jean-François, Biagini, Philippe, Duverlie, Gilles, Castelain, Sandrine, Izopet, Jacques, Dubois, Martine, Defer, Christine, Lepot, Isabelle, Coste, Joliette, Marcellin, Patrick, Martinot-Peignoux, Michèle, Halfon, Philippe, Gerolami, Victoria, Frangeul, L., Pawlotsky, Jean-Michel, Roudot-Thoraval, Françoise, Dussaix, Elisabeth, Loiseau, Pascale, Ravera, Nadine, Lewin, Patricia, Lamoril, Jérôme, Lerable, Joëlle, Bouchardeau, Françoise, Laperche, Syria, Mariotti, Martine, Lefrère, Jean-Jacques, Nicot, Thierry, Denis, Francois, Gassain, Michèle, Mérel, Patrick, Trépo, Christian, Thiers, Valerie, Bréchot, Christian, Férec, Claude, Stoll-Keller, Françoise, Palmer, Pierre, Lebon, Pierre
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Society for Microbiology 01.12.1997
• Subjects: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; Bioinformatics; Computer Science; Flaviviridae; Genomics; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; Humans; Laboratories; Life Sciences; Microbiology and Parasitology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Quality Control; RNA, Viral; Sensitivity and Specificity; Virology
• ISSN: 0095-1137
• DOI: 10.1128/jcm.35.12.3298-3300.1997

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 laboratories participated in a quality control study to assess the sensitivity and specificity of their procedures. The panel included 13 positive controls and 7 negative controls. The laboratories used either in-house PCR techniques adapted from the literature or partly standardized commercial tests. Three laboratories performed faultlessly with the entire panel. Most laboratories had excellent specificity (100% in 20 of 22 laboratories). Sensitivity was acceptable (85 to 100%) in 15 centers and insufficient (38 to 77%) in 7. As with nonstandardized in-house PCR, the commercial assays gave discrepant performances in different laboratories. These results suggest that laboratories willing to use PCR for detection of GBV-C/HGV RNA for research or diagnostic purposes should participate in multicenter quality control trials.