Table 1.

Limits of Detection Testing of the RealTime Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Viral Load Assay Using RNA Extracted From Circular Punches of Mock Dried Blood Spots Made With Whole Blood Containing Various Target Concentrations of HCV RNA

Target Concentration, IU/mL Whole Blood	6-mm DBS Punch			12-mm DBS Punch
	Tested, No.	Detected, No.	%	Tested, No.	Detected, No.	%
5000	15	15	100	31	31	100
2000	19	19	100	16	16	100
1000	30	27	90	40	40	100
500	30	21	70	33	31	94
250	28	9	32	28	21	75

Abbreviations: DBS, dried blood spot; IU, international units.