• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.595-602
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• 2005

A one-step real-time quantitative RT-PCR assay in combination with automated RNA extraction was evaluated for routine testing of HCV RNA in the laboratory. Specific primers and probes were developed to detect 302 bp on 5'-UTR of HCV RNA. The assay was able to quantitate a dynamic linear range of $10^7-10^1$ HCV RNA copies/reaction ($R^2=0.997$). The synthetic HCV RNA standard of $1.84{\pm}0.1\;(mean{\pm}SD)$ copies developed in this study corresponded to 1 international unit (IU) of WHO International Standard for HCV RNA (96/790 I). The detection limit of the assay was 3 RNA copies/reaction (81 IU/ml) in plasma samples. The assay was comparable to the Amplicor HCV Monitor (Monitor) assay with correlation coefficient r=0.985, but was more sensitive than the Monitor assay. The assay could be completed within 3 h from RNA extraction to detection and data analysis for up to 32 samples. It allowed rapid RNA extraction, detection, and quantitation of HCV RNA in plasma samples. The method provided sufficient sensitivity and reproducibility and proved to be fast and labor-saving, so that it was suitable for high throughput HCV RNA test.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.205.4-205
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• 2005

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.363-370
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• 2023

Human respiratory viral infections such as COVID-19 are highly contagious, so continuous management of airborne viruses is essential. In particular, indoor air monitoring is necessary because the risk of infection increases in poorly ventilated indoors. However, the current method of detecting airborne viruses requires a lot of time from sample collection to confirmation of results. In this study, we proposed a system that can monitor airborne viruses in real time to solve the deficiency of the present method. Air samples were collected in liquid form through a bio sampler, in which case the virus is present in low concentrations. To detect viruses from low-concentration samples, viral RNA was concentrated and extracted using silica-magnetic beads. RNA binds to silica under certain conditions, and by repeating this binding reaction, bulk samples collected from the air can be concentrated. After concentration and extraction, viral RNA is specifically detected through real-time qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction). In addition, based on liquid handling technology, we have developed an automatic machine that automatically performs the entire testing process and can be easily used even by non-experts. To evaluate the system, we performed air sample collection and automated testing using bacteriophage MS2 as a model virus. As a result, the air-collected samples concentrated by 45 times then initial volume, and the detection sensitivity of PCR also confirmed a corresponding improvement.