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Stable hepatitis C virus RNA detection by RT-PCR during four days storage
Anne-Isabelle de Moreau de Gerbehaye1, Monique Bodéus, Annie Robert
1Department of Virology, Université Catholique de Louvain et Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium. ng.deradigues@yucom.be
Background:
Suboptimal specimen processing and storage conditions of samples which contain hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA may result in a decline of HCV RNA concentration or false-negative results in the detection of HCV RNA in serum. We evaluated the stability of HCV RNA in serum and clotted blood samples stored at room temperature or at 4 degrees C for 4 days with the aim of optimizing the standard procedures of processing and storage of samples.
Methods:
Blood from five HCV RNA positive patients was collected in tubes with and without separator gel, centrifuged 1 or 6 hours after collection. Samples were then left 6, 24, 48, 72 or 96 h at room temperature (21.5 - 25.4 degrees C) or at 4 degrees C before determining their HCV RNA level using the COBAS AMPLICOR HCV MONITOR Test, vs 2.0 (Roche Diagnostic Systems).
Results:
The logarithm of the HCV RNA level measurements remained within a 0.3 value of the means for 4 days at both temperatures (room temperature or 4 degrees C).
Conclusions:
We conclude that blood samples may be collected and aliquoted within 6 h of collection and can be stored at 4 degrees C for 72 hours as proposed by the manufacturer without significant differences in measured HCV RNA level. Our results indicate that lapses in this scheme may still yield reliable results.