Effects of Handling and Storage of Blood on the Stability of Hepatitis C Virus RNA: Implications for NAT Testing in Transfusion Practice

• Published in: Vox sanguinis Vol. 78; no. 3; pp. 137 - 142
• Main Authors: Grant, P.R., Kitchen, A., Barbara, J.A.J., Hewitt, P., Sims, C.M., Garson, J.A., Tedder, R.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-04-2000; Blackwell; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Adenine - pharmacology; Anticoagulants - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Preservation - adverse effects; Blood Preservation - standards; Blood Transfusion; Chelating Agents - pharmacology; Citrates - pharmacology; Cryoprotective Agents - pharmacology; Edetic Acid - pharmacology; England; Gene Amplification; Glucose - pharmacology; Hepacivirus - genetics; Hepatitis C virus; Humans; Kinetics; Malformations of the nervous system; Mass Screening; Medical sciences; Neurology; Phosphates - pharmacology; Plasma - virology; Product Packaging; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Viral - blood; RNA, Viral - drug effects; Specimen Handling - standards; Temperature; Time Factors; England; Human; Stability; Transfusion; Conservation; Medical screening; Blood; Virus; Messenger RNA; Manipulation; Flaviviridae; Hepatitis C virus; Hepacivirus; Blood donor
• ISSN: 0042-9007; 1423-0410
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1423-0410.2000.7830137.x

Background and Objectives:
To determine the stability of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA during transport and storage of blood samples from donors, prior to screening for HCV by nucleic acid amplification technology. Materials and Methods: Various blood and plasma sample types were stored for up to 120 h at different temperatures and the HCV RNA level was measured using an in house quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. Results: No decline in HCV RNA level was observed after 72 h of storage of whole bood at 4°C in EDTA tubes (Greiner) and Plasma Preparation Tubes (PPT; Becton Dickinson), while insignificant declines of 0.2 log10 and 0.25 log10 occurred at 25°C after 72 h in the EDTA tubes and PPT tubes, respectively. When whole blood was stored with mixed anticoagulants CPDA‐1 and EDTA for up to 120 h, no decline in HCV RNA level was observed at 4°C and 25°C, while a significant decline of 0.37 log10 occurred at 37°C after 120 h. The temperature during transportation was investigated with a 12‐hour period at 25°C and 37°C before storage at 4°C for 108 h. Neither temperature resulted in any loss of HCV RNA in comparison with 120 h of storage at 4°C. Conclusion: Whole blood anticoagulated with EDTA or CPDA‐1/EDTA may be stored at up to 25°C (room temperature) for up to 5 days without any significant loss in plasma HCV RNA level.