Detection of hepatitis C virus by a user-developed reverse transcriptase-PCR and use of amplification products for subsequent genotyping.

Background: Detection, quantitation and genotyping of hepatitis C virus (HCV) are important in selecting appropriate therapy. Current commercially available HCV genotyping kits, including sequencing-based TRUGENE HCV 5'NC and hybridization-based INNO-LiPA HCV II assays, rely on amplification products (amplicons) generated by HCV reverse-transcriptase (RT)-PCR methods such as the Roche AMPLICOR HCV test.

Methods: We developed a one-step RT-PCR assay to amplify and detect HCV RNA, and the resulting amplicons were used for HCV genotyping (TRUGENE).

Direct comparison of hepatitis C virus genotypes tested by INNO-LiPA HCV II and TRUGENE HCV genotyping methods.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. It is associated with the development of end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Studies have shown that patients infected with different genotypes of HCV may respond to interferon-ribavirin therapy differently and thus HCV genotype information is very important in helping physicians to better managing their patients.