While the ResPlex II and MultiCode-PLx offer a broader virus detection range and greater ease of use, the xTAG PRV showed increased sensitivity to common viral targets represented in the assays, and also had the ability to differentiate human from non-human influenza A H1.

A multiplex-PCR Luminex xMAP bead probe fluid array using xTAG analyte-specific reagents (multiplex xTAG fungal ASR assay) was employed for detection of clinically significant Candida species, Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum, and Blastomyces dermatitidis from blood cultures. We tested 132 blood cultures negative (n ‫؍‬ 10) or positive (n ‫؍‬ 97) for yeasts and/or bacteria (n ‫؍‬ 25). The assay showed sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 99%, respectively. The xTAG fungal ASR assay is a rapid assay that allows simultaneous identification of multiple yeast species.

We evaluated the Abbott RealTime (ART) and Roche Cobas TaqMan Hepatitis C virus (HCV) viral load assays for quantification of HCV genotypes in patient specimens. The ART HCV assay was a more sensitive and precise tool for accurate HCV viral load quantification across the HCV genotypes tested, especially genotype 1b. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with significant liver-related morbidity and mortality around the world. The World Health Organization estimates that 3% of the global population is infected with HCV and that there are approximately 170 million people at risk of developing cirrhosis or hepatocarcinoma (23,24). Treatment of HCV infection typically consists of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin or pegylated interferon, ribavirin, and a direct-acting antiviral (DAA) protease inhibitor (triple therapy) for non-genotype 1 and genotype 1, respectively (11,12,13). Depending on the particular treatment regimen and the genotype of HCV, treatment success as measured by failure to detect viral replication 24 weeks after cessation of treatment can be achieved in 50 to 80% of patients (12).Measurement of HCV viral load (VL) for the different HCV genotypes is crucial to clinical management of HCV-infected patients, both treated and not, for disease staging, decisions regarding treatment initiation, and individualization of treatment strategy (i.e., dosage and duration based on response kinetics) (1,6,7,13). Furthermore, with the advent of DAAs, VL monitoring may help prevent protease inhibitor resistance development by allowing for switching or stopping therapy if VL does not decrease or returns while on treatment.There are currently several commercially available HCV VL assays; real-time PCR assays are generally preferred because of their wide dynamic ranges and good sensitivities (1, 3). Two commercial real-time PCR platforms are available, the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HCV assay version 1.0 (CAP-CTM; Roche Molecular Systems, Pleasanton, CA) and the Abbott RealTime HCV assay (ART; Abbott Molecular, Des Plaines, IL). We characterized the performance of the ART assay and compared results obtained with both assays using clinical specimens of diverse HCV genotypes in a university hospital central testing laboratory.HCV VL was determined with the ART and the CAP-CTM as per the manufacturers' recommendations. A serum specimen volume of 500 l was required for ART, compared to 850 l for CAP-CTM. Sample preparation for the ART assay was performed using the Abbott m2000sp instrument. HCV genotypes were identified using the Versant Inno-LIPA HCV Genotype 2.0 assay (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Deerfield, IL); specimens with indeterminate results were tested with the RealTime Genotyping II RUO assay (Abbott Molecular, Des Plaines, IL) or by direct sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of NS5B (performed by Siemens Clinical Laboratories, Berkeley, CA). Statistical tests were performed using Prism 5.0 (GraphPad Software, La Jolla, CA).To evaluate the sensitivity, linearity, and intra-and interrun precisio...