FIG. 4.
Sensitivity and specificity of the qRT-PCR assay for the detection of HDV genomic RNA, antigenomic RNA, and HDAg-encoding mRNA. RT-PCRs with 103 to 109 copies of in vitro-transcribed mRNA-I, G-RNA, or AG-RNA, which were mixed with total RNA extracted from Huh7 cells, were carried out by using the mI-S protocol (A) or the G-S or AG-S protocol (B) as indicated. The products of resultant PCR were analyzed by gel electrophoresis. The numbers above each lane in the gel represent the log10 number of copies of in vitro-transcribed mRNA-I, G-RNA, or AG-RNA added to the RT reaction mixture.