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. 1992 Mar;30(3):750–753. doi: 10.1128/jcm.30.3.750-753.1992

Effects of anticoagulants and storage of blood samples on efficacy of the polymerase chain reaction assay for hepatitis C virus.

J T Wang 1, T H Wang 1, J C Sheu 1, S M Lin 1, J T Lin 1, D S Chen 1
PMCID: PMC265150  PMID: 1313053

Abstract

Blood samples from 11 patients with posttransfusion hepatitis C virus infection were collected. Each sample was divided into three fractions to obtain sera, sodium-citrated plasma, and heparinized plasma and then tested for HCV RNA by a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of them, eight sodium-citrated plasma samples, seven serum samples, and no heparinized plasma samples were PCR positive. Eight PCR-positive sodium-citrated plasma samples were exposed to different physical conditions and semiquantified for HCV RNA after serial dilutions. Samples stored at -70 degrees C showed the best preservation of HCV RNA, and storage at the other conditions resulted in only minimal loss of the PCR signal. Therefore, serum or sodium-citrated plasma specimens are satisfactory for detecting HCV RNA by PCR, but heparinized blood specimens are not.

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Selected References

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