[Stability of hepatitis C virus RNA in human blood plasma in a panel of control samples]

The stability of hepatitis C virus (HPC) RNA concentration in 5 human plasma samples after storage at +22 degrees C for two months, at -20 degrees C, and +4 degrees C for six months after 10 freezing-unfreezing cycles was evaluated. In this study, the concentration of HCV RNA in the samples was stable after six months of storage at -20 degrees C. The concentration of HCV RNA decreased on the average of 92% after 2-month storage at +22 degrees C. After six months of storage at +4 degrees C and after 10 freezing-unfreezing cycles, that decreased by 28 and 42%, respectively. Based on their own findings, the authors developed a HCV-RNA panel containing 5 positive human plasma samples with RNA levels of 103-105 IU/ml. The panel may be recommended both for the standardization of PCR kits and for the intra- and interlaboratory quality control of PCR laboratories.