A multicenter evaluation of the Abbott RealTime HCV Genotype II assay.

Genotype determination is recommended before starting anti-HCV therapy to determine the duration of treatment (PEG-Interferon+ribavirin). The Versant HCV Genotype 2.0 assay, based on the reverse hybridization of the 5'UTR segment and core region of hepatitis C virus (HCV), has been one of the assays used most widely for HCV genotyping. A multicenter evaluation of the more automated Abbott RealTime HCV Genotype II assay was carried out on 124 HCV positive sera tested previously with the Versant HCV Genotype 2.0 assay. There was good agreement between the two assays. Type concordance was 95.9% (117/122) while concordance at the subtype level for genotype 1 was 95.6% (43/45). The Abbott RealTime HCV Genotype II assay is automated, allowing a substantial reduction of time-to results and hands-on time. The combined features of full automation, objective interpretation and digital archiving make this assay useful in a diagnostic setting.