Diagnosis and Monitoring of Hepatitis B Virus Infection Using the Cobas HBV Test for Use on the Cobas 4800 System.

(1) Background: Sensitive and accurate nucleic acid amplification technologies are now recommended for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA detection and quantification in clinical practice to diagnose and monitor hepatitis B infection. The aim of this study was to assess the analytical and clinical performance of the cobas HBV Test on the cobas 4800 System. (2) Methods: Standard panel and clinical specimens were tested in parallel with three different real-time commercial PCR assays including the cobas HBV Test, the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HBV Test v2.

Evaluation and optimisation of commercial Zika IgG avidity assay.

Background: ZIKV infection has potentially severe consequences particularly in fetuses/newborns born to mothers that were infected early in pregnancy. Diagnosis relies on the detection of ZIKV IgM that can also be detected due to cross reactivity or to nonspecific polyclonal activation of the immune system. Therefore, in case of ZIKV IgM detection, identification of a recent infection can be of major importance for the optimal management of pregnant women.

New HIV-1 circulating recombinant form 94: from phylogenetic detection of a large transmission cluster to prevention in the age of geosocial-networking apps in France, 2013 to 2017.

BackgroundEnding the HIV pandemic must involve new tools to rapidly identify and control local outbreaks and prevent the emergence of recombinant strains with epidemiological advantages.AimThis observational study aimed to investigate in France a cluster of HIV-1 cases related to a new circulating recombinant form (CRF). The confirmation this CRF's novelty as well as measures to control its spread are presented.

Detection of numerous HIV-1/MO recombinants in France.

Background: The broad genetic divergence of HIV-1/O relative to HIV-1/M has important implications for diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. Despite this divergence, some HIV-1/M+O dual infections and HIV-1/MO recombinant forms have been reported, mostly in Cameroon, where both groups are prevalent. Here, we describe the characteristics of such infections detected in France in 10 new patients, and discuss their implications for biological and clinical practice, owing to the presence of group O species.

Evaluation of the cobas® GT hepatitis C virus genotyping assay in G1-6 viruses including low viral loads and LiPA failures.

Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drug performances depend on the viral genotype. So international recommendations give typing of the virus a prerequisite for treatment choice and patient management. Commercially available HCV genotyping kits are scarce and this analysis is often in-house using tedious PCRs and Sanger sequencing, leading to a lack of standardization.

A new hot spot for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE): A marked increase of TBE cases in France in 2016.

Objectives: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a zoonotic agent causing severe encephalitis. In 2016, in Northeastern France, we faced a TBEV infection increase, leading to a warning from the Regional Health Agency. Here, we report the confirmed TBE cases diagnosed between January 2013 and December 2016, with particular emphasis on the year 2016.

Screening test for neutralizing antibodies against yellow fever virus, based on a flavivirus pseudotype.

Given the possibility of yellow fever virus reintroduction in epidemiologically receptive geographic areas, the risk of vaccine supply disruption is a serious issue. New strategies to reduce the doses of injected vaccines should be evaluated very carefully in terms of immunogenicity. The plaque reduction test for the determination of neutralizing antibodies (PRNT) is particularly time-consuming and requires the use of a confinement laboratory.

Evaluation of a new random-access HBV DNA molecular assay: The VERIS HBV assay.

Background: Detection and quantification of HBV DNA are essential to diagnose chronic HBV infection, monitor the virological response to treatment and the possible selection of resistant viruses in order to tailor therapy. The VERIS/MDx System HBV Assay is a random-access system that quantifies HBV DNA in clinical samples using unique single sample and reagent access during the workflow process without the need to reload other tests and delivers results within 1.2h following sampling.

The New Aptima HBV Quant Real-Time TMA Assay Accurately Quantifies Hepatitis B Virus DNA from Genotypes A to F.

Sensitive and accurate hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA detection and quantification are essential to diagnose HBV infection, establish the prognosis of HBV-related liver disease, and guide the decision to treat and monitor the virological response to antiviral treatment and the emergence of resistance. Currently available HBV DNA platforms and assays are generally designed for batching multiple specimens within an individual run and require at least one full day of work to complete the analyses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of the newly developed, fully automated, one-step Aptima HBV Quant assay to accurately detect and quantify HBV DNA in a large series of patients infected with different HBV genotypes.

Genotypes and subtypes of hepatitis C virus in Burundi: a particularity in sub-Saharan Africa.

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health issue. HCV genotype identification is clinically important to tailor the dosage and duration of treatment. Indeed, distinct therapeutic approaches are required for each genotype.

Direct genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii from amniotic fluids based on B1 gene polymorphism using minisequencing analysis.

Background: Because some Toxoplasma gondii genotypes may be more virulent in pregnant women, discriminating between them appears valuable. Currently, the main genotyping method is based on single copy microsatellite markers, which limit direct genotyping from amniotic fluids (AFs) to samples with a high parasitic load. We investigated whether the multicopy gene B1 could type the parasite with a higher sensitivity.

Sequencing assays for failed genotyping with the versant hepatitis C virus genotype assay (LiPA), version 2.0.

For optimal antiviral therapy, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype needs to be determined, as it remains a strong predictor of sustained viral response. In this study, we assessed the number of HCV genotyping results that could not be determined using the commercially available line probe assay (LiPA) (Versant hepatitis C virus genotype 2.0 assay) in a large international panel of samples from 9,874 HCV-positive patients.

The Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HCV test, version 2.0, real-time PCR assay accurately quantifies hepatitis C virus genotype 4 RNA.

Accurate hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA quantification is mandatory for the management of chronic hepatitis C therapy. The first-generation Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HCV test (CAP/CTM HCV) underestimated HCV RNA levels by >1-log10 international units/ml in a number of patients infected with HCV genotype 4 and occasionally failed to detect it. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HCV test, version 2.

Plasma HIV-RNA is the key determinant of long-term antibody persistence after Yellow fever immunization in a cohort of 364 HIV-infected patients.

Background: In HIV-infected patients, data on immunogenicity of Yellow fever immunization are scarce, and there is conflicting evidence of the influence of CD4 T-cell count and plasma HIV RNA on neutralizing antibody titer (NT) after vaccine injection.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, NT was measured in all consecutive HIV outpatients who had previously received at least 1 injection of Yellow fever vaccine. Risk factors for vaccine failure (NT < 1:10) and magnitude of NT according to dates of HIV diagnosis and immunization were assessed by logistic regression and general linear models.

HCV-GenoFibrotest: a combination of viral, liver and genomic (IL28b, ITPA, UGT1A1) biomarkers for predicting treatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background And Aim: Three gene polymorphisms, interferon-lambda-3 (IL28B), inosinetriphosphatase (ITPA) and bilirubinuridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1) are associated with treatment (interferon and ribavirin) efficacy and adherence in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The hypothesis was that fibrosis stage estimated with FibroTest instead of biopsy was still an independent predictive factor of sustained virologic response (SVR) when these new polymorphisms were assessed.

Methods: Patients receiving standard of care treatment were retrospectively analyzed with determination of IL28B, ITPA, and UGT1A1 polymorphisms.

Human papillomavirus testing with a liquid-based system: feasibility and comparison with reference diagnoses.

Objective: To validate the utilization of cervical specimens collected in the fixative liquid used in the CYTO-screen System (SEROA, Monaco) for oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA detection by the Hybrid Capture II technique (HCII) (Digene, Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S.A) by reference to cytologic and/or histologic results.

Usefulness of specific IgG avidity for diagnosis of hepatitis A infection.

Aim: Diagnosis of acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is classically based on the detection of HAV-IgM. Nevertheless, HAV-IgM can be positive for patients with polyclonal stimulation of their immune system (i.e.

Diagnostic relevance of immunoglobulin G avidity for hepatitis A virus.

Diagnosis of acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is based on the detection of HAV immunoglobulin M (IgM). However, IgM could be detected due to nonspecific polyclonal activation of the immune system. An avidity test for anti-HAV IgG was developed to distinguish acute infection, where low-avidity antibodies are detected, from immune reactivation.

Frequency of herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus and human papillomavirus DNA in semen.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections produce brain damage in the newborn, and human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a role in cervical carcinogenesis. To assess the frequency of herpes virus and HPV in semen and its role in transmission, semen from 111 male partners of women with histologically-detected genital HPV infection was analysed for HSV, CMV and HPV infection. We used cell culture to detect HSV and CMV, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HPV.