rss
Br J Ophthalmol 1994;78:859-862 doi:10.1136/bjo.78.11.859
  • Research Article

Detection of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus in donor eyes using polymerase chain reaction.

  1. J Shimazaki,
  2. K Tsubota,
  3. M Sawa,
  4. S Kinoshita,
  5. T Ohkura and
  6. M Honda
  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan.

      Abstract

      Detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in donor eyes was performed. DNAs were extracted from the uvea, and they were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Amplified viral DNAs were detected with liquid hybridisation and chemiluminescent assay in which no radioactive materials were used. This method was shown to have a sensitivity limit of fewer than 10 copies of HIV, making it much more sensitive than the current techniques employed in eye banks. The method was applied to 120 donor eyes, including four from donors seropositive for HBV. The HBV gene was detected in one case in which the donor's blood had not been tested for HBV. HIV and HCV genes were not detected in any of the samples. The assay could be an effective screening test for the detection of these viruses in eye bank eyes.

      This Article

      1. Abstract
      2. PDF

      Responses

      1. Submit a response
      2. No responses published

      Register for free content

      The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

      Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.