Korean J Clin Pathol.  1998 Jun;18(2):259-264.

HCV Serotypes and HCV RNA Quantitation

• Kim YA
• Kim HS
• Han KH

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There are several serological subtypes (serotypes) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) which can be detected by a serological enzyme immunoassay (EIA) method which detects the HCV subtype-specific antibodies against the NS4 region of the virus. We determined the HCV serotypes chronic HCV infected patients in terms of clinical applications.
METHODS
Subtypes based on Simmonds' classification were detected in chronic HCV patients serologically and viral loads quantitated with branched DNA (bDNA) assay. The EIA was compared with multiplex PCR method.
RESULTS
The serotype 1 (Simmonds' classification, 1a, 1b, 1c), the most prevalent form in Korea followed by serotype 2 (Simmonds' classification, 2a, 2b, 2c). The distribution of serotypes and HCV viral loads were not different according to disease severity. The patients infected with serotype 1 had higher viremic level (serotype 1, 7.4+/-15.5 MEq/mL; serotype 2, 1.1+/-2.2 MEq/mL, P=0.017). The serotype matched with the genotype in 85.7% (18/21) of cases.
CONCLUSIONS
HCV serotype 1 is the most prevalent form in Korea and seemed to be able to more actively replicate than serotype 2. Both multiplex PCR and EIA can be used for detecting HCV subtypes and mutually interpretable.

Keyword

HCV; Subtype; Serotype; Genotype; Enzyme immunoassay (EIA); Multiplex PCR; Branched DNA (bDNA); Viral load quantitation

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Classification
DNA
Genotype
Hepacivirus
Humans
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Korea
Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA*
Viral Load
Antibodies
DNA
RNA