A novel high-resolution melting analysis strategy for detecting cystic fibrosis-causing variants.

Cystic fibrosis (CF), an autosomal recessive disease, is caused by variants in both alleles of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. A new assay based on allele-specific polymerase chain reaction and high-resolution melting analysis was developed for the detection of 18 CF-causing CFTR variants previously identified in Cuba and Latin America. The assay is also useful for zygosity determination of mutated alleles and includes internal controls.

Performance characteristics of a fast real-time PCR assay for hepatitis B virus DNA quantification.

Detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA is particularly important for detection of early acute and of occult HBV infection. On the other hand, HBV DNA detection and quantification are essential to diagnose and treat chronic HBV infection. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the real-time PCR SUMASIGNAL VHB (un paso) (Immunoassay Center, Cuba).

A simple, fast and inexpensive method for mutation scanning of CFTR gene.

Background: Mutation scanning methods in Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene may not distinguish between a Cystic Fibrosis (CF) causing mutation and a benign variant. We have developed a simple and fast method for scanning 14 selected CF-causing mutations which have high frequency in Latin America.

Methods: In a group of 35 samples coming from CF patients previously characterized and using two allele-specific real-time multiplex PCRs targeting wild-type and mutant alleles respectively, we detect the presence of mutations by analyzing the Ct variation.

Generation of HIV-1 and Internal Control Transcripts as Standards for an In-House Quantitative Competitive RT-PCR Assay to Determine HIV-1 Viral Load.

Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) viral load is useful for monitoring disease progression in HIV-infected individuals. We generated RNA standards of HIV-1 and internal control (IC) by in vitro transcription and evaluated its performance in a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. HIV-1 and IC standards were obtained at high RNA concentrations, without DNA contamination.

The usefulness of Umelosa hepatitis C vírus qualitative kit as supplemental test for confirmation of hepatitis C virus infection.

Forty voluntary blood donors from two different blood banks in Havana, Cuba, who were repeatedly reactive on the routine screening of antibodies to hepatitis C virus, by Umelisa HCV test, were analyzed for the presence of HCV RNA using a nested PCR assay of the HCV 5' untranslated region, Umelosa HCV qualitative. Sera from 45 patients of a specialized gastroenterology consultation, positive to Umelisa HCV, were also assayed with the Umelosa HCV qualitative, to establish their condition related to the presence of HCV RNA previously to the indication of a treatment or after three, six or twelve months of antiviral therapy. Serum HCV-RNA was detected in 21/40 (52.

Validation of a nested PCR assay UMELOSA HCV CUALITATIVO for the detection of Hepatitis C virus.

An analysis of the performance characteristics of the UMELOSA HCV CUALITATIVO assay for the detection of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in human serum or plasma is presented. This qualitative in vitro diagnostic test is performed in three steps: (a) extraction of viral RNA, (b) reverse transcription of target RNA to generate complementary DNA followed by a polymerase chain reaction assay coupled with a second round of amplification, and finally (c) fluorescent detection of the amplified DNA by hybridization in a solid phase of an ultramicroplate coated with a complementary to amplified DNA probe. Considering the assay as a limit test for the control of impurities, the following analytical performance parameters were evaluated: specificity, detection limit and robustness.