Mahdi Paryan, Mahdieh Mondanizadeh, Samira Mohammadi-Yeganeh , Behzad Khansarinejad,
Volume 14, Issue 5 (11-2011)
Abstract
Background: HIV-1 and HCV are two of the most important blood-borne infectious agents. Hence, reliable, precise, and sensitive detection of these viruses in infected patients and donated blood units is highly important. Noticing the limitations of serological assays in detection of these infectious agents, this study was to use fast and sensitive molecular assays like real-time PCR.
Materials and Methods: In this trial, a home-brewed SYBR green-based multiplex real time PCR, on the basis of melting curve analysis, was developed for the single or simultaneous detection of HCV and HIV-1 infections in plasma samples. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16.
Results: The results obtained from different reactions on several clinical samples showed that the analytical sensitivities of the developed assay for HIV-1 and HCV were 200 and 100 copies/ml, respectively. It was also shown that the primers designed for each virus had no interaction with each other and other interfering agents.
Conclusion: Noticing the good level of sensitivity and specificity, easy handling, relatively low cost, and rapid analysis of samples, this method can be a useful and rapid approach for simple and effective detection of HCV and HIV-1 in plasma samples.
Amitis Ramezani, Ali Eslamifar, Mohammad Banifazl, Hossien Keyvani, Effat Razeghi, Farrokh Lagha Ahmadi, Manouchehr Amini, Latif Gachkar, Anahita Bavand, Arezoo Aghakhani,
Volume 16, Issue 11 (2-2014)
Abstract
Background: Occult hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is defined as the presence of HCV-RNA in liver or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the absence of detectable hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) or HCV-RNA in the serum. Although occult HCV infection is less aggressive than classic chronic HCV infection, nevertheless it is important in management of hemodialysis (HD) patients. Occult HCV infection has been described in two different clinical settings: in patients with normal liver enzymes or in patients with abnormal values of liver enzymes. The aim of this study was to detect the occult HCV infection in hemodialysis patients with elevated liver enzymes.
Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was performed in hemodialysis patients referring to 3 dialysis units in Tehran. In 30 anti-HCV negative HD patients with elevated liver enzymes, presence of HCV-RNA in plasma samples was tested by Reverse Transcriptase-Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-nested PCR). In cases with negative anti-HCV and plasma HCV-RNA, HCV-RNA was checked in PBMC specimens by RT-nested PCR.
Results: A total of 30 HD patients with mean age 54.4± 14.1years and mean dialysis duration 81.2 ±64.4 months were enrolled in the study. All HD subjects were negative for HCV-RNA in plasma and occult HCV infection with RT-nested PCR method.
Conclusion: Occult HCV infection was rare in HD patients with elevated levels of liver enzymes.
