Test 8698 - Hepatitis C Virus RNA by PCR - Genotyping
It is recommended that all patients be genotyped prior to initiating therapy.
For qualitative plus quantitative detection and viral load monitoring of HCV, use GA test code # 219 TQ (HCV RNA by PCR Total Quant)
Method Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) - Qualitative plus sequencing
Specimen Requirements 2.0 ml (1.0 ml) Serum *recommended, refrigerate or frozen; 2.0 ml (1.0 ml) PPT Plasma, centrifuge only, do not separate, refrigerate or frozen; 2.0 ml (1.0 ml) EDTA or ACD Plasma, centrifuge and separate from whole blood within 3 hours of collection, refrigerate or frozen;
Note: If patient is monitored for therapy, subsequent specimens must be of the same type.
Collection & Transport Store serum and plasma at 2-8ºC and ship on ice pack overnight; or, freeze and ship on dry ice. Avoid repeated freezing and thawing.
Causes for Rejection <1.0 ml volume for serum; <1.0 ml volume for plasma; serum or EDTA or ACD plasma not separated within 3 hours; blood collected in heparin.
Specimen Stability Serum and plasma stable for 72 hours stored at 2-8ºC; stable for longer periods when frozen -20ºC.
Reference Range Not Detected
TAT 7-10 days
CPT Code 87902, Infectious agent phenotype analysis by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) ; HCV, reverse transcriptase and protease

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) exhibits significant genetic variability throughout its entire genome. Six distinct HCV genotypes have been identified and more than 50 subtypes. Genotypes 1a and 1b are the most common in Western Europe and the USA, followed by genotypes 2 and 3. Genotype 4 is found predominantly in Egypt, genotype 5 mainly in South Africa, and genotype 6 mainly in South East Asia.

The identification of genotype is an important factor in the management of HCV-infected individuals, influencing both the duration of and the sustained response to therapy. Prior to initiating therapy, it is recommended that all patients be genotyped. Those patients with genotype 1 should receive a 48-week course of combination therapy, while for patients with genotypes 2 and 3, a 24-week course of therapy is usually adequate. Additionally, patients with genotypes 2 and 3 are almost three times more likely to respond to therapy.

Determination of HCV genotype is frequently based on interrogation of the highly conserved 5’ UTR region of the HCV genome. However, it has been suggested that this region is not heterogeneous enough to differentiate between 1a and 1b genotypes. Use of the NS5B or core regions has been shown to provide accurate identification of these subtypes, and some studies have reported differences in outcomes between patients infected with 1a vs 1b.

View Brochure--HCV RNA by PCR: Qualitative/Quantitation and Genotyping

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