Korean J Lab Med.  2005 Oct;25(5):352-360.

The Comparison of Restriction Fragment Mass Polymorphism with Sequencing Method for the Hepatitis C Virus Genotyping

• Chung HJ
• Yang JH
• Hwang SH
• Hong SP
• Oh HB

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotyping is of increasing the importance in the progression to liver cirrhosis and the outcome of antiviral therapy. Restriction fragment mass polymorphism (RFMP) method which is developed recently for HCV genotyping is known to report accurate result in mixed infection. We evaluated the performance of RFMP in HCV genotyping by comparing the result of direct sequencing. METHODS: Forty-three chronically HCV infected patients in Asan Medical Center were enrolled. HCV genotyping was performed by both RFMP and direct sequencing. The results were compared from the genotype level to the subtype level. RESULTS: In the genotype level, all the results (100%) were concordant. At the subtype level, however, 2 results (2/43, 4.7%) were disconcordant. Two cases were reported as single infection of type 1b by direct sequencing while RFMP reported as mixed infection of 1b with 1a and 1b with 1c, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both sequencing and RFMP assays were highly concordant. We suggest that RFMP is a novel method in HCV genotyping superior to sequencing or hybridization method especially in mixed infection.

Keyword

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotyping; Restriction fragment mass polymorphism (RFMP) assay; Sequencing

MeSH Terms

Chungcheongnam-do
Coinfection
Genotype
Hepacivirus*
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis