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. 2017 Jan;44(1):39-44.
doi: 10.1159/000449207. Epub 2016 Nov 4.

HCV RNA Testing of Plasma Samples from Cornea Donors: Suitability of Plasma Samples Stored at 4 °C for up to 8 Days

Annemarie Berger  1 , Sabine Salla  2 , Oliver T Keppler  3 , Holger F Rabenau  1
Affiliations

HCV RNA Testing of Plasma Samples from Cornea Donors: Suitability of Plasma Samples Stored at 4 °C for up to 8 Days

Annemarie Berger et al. Transfus Med Hemother. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

Background: The HCV RNA testing of potential cornea donors frequently relies on blood samples stored pre mortem. The recommended storage time of maximum 72 h frequently excludes a significant fraction of donors.

Methods: The influence of storage time of EDTA plasma samples at 4 °C on the viral load measured with the Roche HCV Quantitative Test vs. 2.0 was evaluated for 43 samples from HCV-positive individuals.

Results: The mean reduction of the viral load after 4 °C storage for 6-8 days was 0.46 log10 IU/ml (range +0.17 to -1.66 log10 IU/ml). After 1-3 days a mean loss of 0.19 log10 IU/ml (range +0.30 to -1.41 log10 IU/ml) and after 3-5 days of 0.32 log10 IU/ml (range +0.36 to -1.81 log10 IU/ml) was observed. In 23.3% of samples, a viral load reduction ≥ 1 log10 IU/ml (1.0-1.81 log10 IU/ml) was found after prolonged storage (5-8 days). In none of the samples did the HCV load fall below the detection limit.

Conclusion: Plasma storage for up to 8 days can quantitatively reduce the HCV RNA load, yet has no influence on the reliability of a qualitative HCV RNA detection by this ultrasensitive test to determine the HCV status of serologically negative cornea donors.

Keywords: Cornea donor testing; HCV-PCR; Prolonged sample storage at 4 °C.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
HCV viral load (IU/ml) in 11 individual patient samples, which showed viral load differences ≥1 log10 IU/ml after different storage times at 4 ° C or at ≤-18 ° C (points plotted vertically originate from the same sample that was tested at different time points. The abscissa shows the samples blotted according to their viral load in the ‘original sample’ in ascending order).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Differences of viral load (≥1 log10 IU/ml) in comparison to the ‘original samples’ after different storage times at 4 ° C and after storage at ≤-18 ° C (n = 11 samples). Points plotted vertically originate from the same sample that was tested at different time points. The abscissa shows the samples blotted according to their viral load in the ‘original sample’ in ascending order.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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