Abstract

Objective: This research aimed to make comparisons of sensitivity and specificity between Quantitative real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (Q-PCR) and Reverse Transcription PCR (RT-PCR) in detecting the ribonucleic acid (RNA) expression levels of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).

Methods: 121 patients suffering from hepatitis C and 98 healthy participants with normal liver functions were identified. The venous blood collections were carried out, were subjected to detect the expression levels of HCV RNA via Q-PCR and RT-PCR. And then, the data obtained from these above two detection methods were compared, including the sensitivity and specificity.

Results: In terms of Q-PCR, the positive rate of HCV RNA was 72.16%, which was significantly higher when compared with 55.26% of RT-PCR. After statistical analysis, the difference between them was statistically significant (P＜0.05). Among the healthy participants, 4 cases were false positive by means of RT-PCR, there was the possibility of missed diagnosis when the samples were evaluated by Q-PCR.

Conclusion: The Q-PCR detection technology performed well in testing HCV, with pretty high sensitivity and specificity. Nevertheless, the false negative results obtained from Q-PCR could not be avoided. In clinical practice, these above two detection methods should be referred to, in order to avoid missed diagnosis.

Keywords: Hepatitis C virus, ribonucleic acid, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma.