Large scale screening of human sera for HCV RNA and GBV-C RNA

J Med Virol. 2014 Mar;86(3):473-7. doi: 10.1002/jmv.23829. Epub 2013 Oct 31.

Abstract

North Carolina locates acute HIV cases by pooled nucleic acid testing of HIV-antibody negative serum samples. Here, 224 pools of 80 HIV-negative samples (N = 17,920) were screened for viral RNA from HCV, GBV-C, and influenza A. No evidence of influenza A was found, but HCV and GBV-C were common (1.2% and 1.7% prevalence, respectively), demonstrating the utility of pooled testing in locating individuals that may remain undiagnosed otherwise. By sequencing positive pools, potential transmission clusters may be located as well.

Keywords: GB virus C; acute HIV infection; emerging pathogens; hepatitis C virus; influenza A; public health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Flaviviridae Infections / diagnosis*
  • Flaviviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Flaviviridae Infections / transmission
  • Flaviviridae Infections / virology
  • GB virus C / isolation & purification*
  • Hepacivirus / isolation & purification*
  • Hepatitis C / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C / transmission
  • Hepatitis C / virology
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / transmission
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / virology
  • Humans
  • Molecular Epidemiology / methods
  • North Carolina / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • RNA, Viral / blood*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • RNA, Viral