Multicenter evaluation of a commercial multiplex polymerase chain reaction test for screening plasma donations for parvovirus B19 DNA and hepatitis A virus RNA.

Background: Three European laboratories evaluated the TaqScreen DPX test (DPX test), a multiplex nucleic acid test assay for the simultaneous detection and quantitation of parvovirus B19 (B19V) DNA and the detection of hepatitis A virus (HAV) RNA.

Study Design And Methods: The 95% limit of detection of the test for B19V and HAV was determined using the respective WHO International Standards. The reproducibility of the test was evaluated by testing replicate samples of B19V at log 4.

Screening of blood donors for hepatitis C virus RNA with the MagNA Pure-COBAS AmpliScreen method.

Background: This report describes the validation results and the performance characteristics of a new, semiautomated minipool nucleic acid amplification method for testing of blood products to reduce the transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by transfusions.

Study Design And Methods: Minipools of 96 donations were prepared with the Tecan Genesis pipettors. Nucleic acids were isolated from plasma samples with the MagNA Pure LC instrument (Roche Diagnostics GmbH) and amplified and detected with the COBAS AmpliScreen second-generation HCV assay (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.