Evaluation of hepatitis C virus RNA stability in room temperature and multiple freeze-thaw cycles by COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HCV.

To assess the stability of various sample types and storage conditions for quantitative detectability of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA viral loads, we studied serum and EDTA/citrate plasma samples obtained from 10 patients known to be positive for HCV RNA. Samples were subjected to the following conditions: 1) 10 freeze-thaw (FT) cycles, and 2) storage at room temperature for 24, 48, and 72 h. Detection of HCV RNA was performed by COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HCV. The following conclusions were reached: 1) no significantly different viral loads were observed in different blood compartments; 2) no significantly different viral loads were observed after 24, 48, and 72 h at room temperature; 3) no significantly different viral loads were observed after 10 FT cycles in serum and plasma samples; and 4) HCV RNA is quite stable in serum and plasma (EDTA/citrate) samples.