Comparison between the Results of the Real Time PCR Test and Those of the Cobas Amplicor HCV Test, v2.0. In Hepatitis C Virus Infected Egyptian Patients

Purpose: Several assays are used to diagnose HCV infected patients, but measurement of HCV RNA levels has become an integral and increasingly important part of the management of patients with HCV infection to select the appropriate treatment schedule and to estimate the treatment outcome. Real Time PCR test allows for detection of PCR amplification products during the early phase of the reaction & provides a distinct advantage over traditional PCR detection which detects PCR products at the end-point of the reaction which are not as precise as Real-time PCR. The aim of the work is to compare the results of the Real Time PCR test versus that of the Cobas Amplicor HCV test, v2.0. for accurate detection of the HCV virus load in HCV infected patients. Methods: 50 patients were randomly selected from the Outpatient Clinic of Ain Shams University Hospital. Their ages ranged from 30-50 years. They were subjected to screening for antibodies to HCV by ELISA test, RTPCR test which was done by Automated Amplicor System and the real time PCR test. Results: The results obtained from the real time PCR and the conventional PCR assays were almost parallel to each other. However, variations in the HCV RNA levels had occurred between both tests despite the use of I.U. standard. Conclusion: The real time PCR test is a simple, highly sensitive, specific and reproducible assay for the measurement of serum HCV RNA with a wider detection range and good accuracy of results.