More sensitive and precise: New PCR technology in the diagnostics of chronic “C“ virus hepatitis

Introduction: The detection of viraemia and the quantitation of virus level in chronic C and B virus hepatitis are performed using PCR based nucleic acid amplification. The efficacy (sustained response) of the currently applied pegilated interferon and ribavirin combined therpy (“stop rule“) is determined on the basis of HCV-RNS level changes. In the past few years we applied COBAS Amplicor HCV Monitor test based on end-point PCR technology for the quantitation of virus nucleic acid, whose linear detection limit is between 600–600.000 IU/ml. HCV nucleid acid quantitation has been performed with the newly develop…