METHODS OF DETECTING HCV GENOTYPE 1 (HCV-1) BY USING PRIMERS SPECIFIC FOR THE 5' NON-CODING REGION (NCR) OF THE HCV GENOME

摘要

The present invention provides a method of detecting HCV genotype 1 (HCV-1) in a sample which is based on the finding that the 5' non-coding region (NCR) of the HCV genome is conserved between HCV-1 quasi-species but not between other HCV subgroups. The method comprises subjecting the sample to an amplification reaction using at least one primer which anneals specifically to the 5' noncoding region (5' NCR) of the HCV-1 genome, and detecting the product of the amplification reaction. Kits and primers suitable for carrying out the method are also provided.