Ability of the different molecular methods tested in this study to correctly identify HCV subtypes 1a and 1b in a series of 500 patients infected by one or the other of these subtypes.

Correct identification with the different techniques tested is shown for all samples, and for samples that could be amplified by PCR in the assay.*The correct HCV genotype 1 subtype was identified by means of direct sequence analysis of a portion of the NS5B gene followed by phylogenetic analysis, the reference method.**In one 1a case and two 1b cases, not enough serum volume was available for testing in the Abbott RealTime HCV Genotype II assay.