Linear regression showing correlation between HCV-RNA Concentrations in plasma and DBS samples.

<p>Linear regression showing correlation between HCV-RNA Concentrations in plasma and DBS samples.</p

Showing no significant difference in plasma IP-10 levels in samples derived from baseline and at 6 months follow-up.

<p>Showing no significant difference in plasma IP-10 levels in samples derived from baseline and at 6 months follow-up.</p

Baseline characteristics for study patients.

<p>Baseline characteristics for study patients.</p

Median plasma IP-10 concentrations at baseline in relation to genotype, ALT levels, TE-score levels- and dynamics and plasma HCV-RNA concentration.

<p>Median plasma IP-10 concentrations at baseline in relation to genotype, ALT levels, TE-score levels- and dynamics and plasma HCV-RNA concentration.</p

A comparison of Receiver Operation Characteristic Curves of IP-10 determined in dried plasma spots and plasma.

<p>Analysis included samples from 21 patients with cirrhosis (regarded as cases) and 19 patients with no/mild fibrosis (regarded controls in the analysis). The Area Under the Curve reflects the markers’ ability to differentiate between the two groups of patients. There was no significant difference between the two methods.</p

Correlation between IP-10 detected in plasma and dried plasma spots.

<p>Samples from 19 patients with chronic hepatitis C infection and no/mild liver fibrosis and 21 patients with liver cirrhosis were compared. There was a highly significant correlation between IP-10 detected with the two methods (r² = 0.97, p<0.0001).</p

IP-10 measurements.

<p>IP-10 measured in plasma (left) and dried plasma spots (right) from 19 patients with chronic hepatitis C infection and no/mild liver fibrosis and 21 patients with liver cirrhosis. Line denote median. There was a significant difference between the groups in both plasma and dried plasma spots, p<0.0004.</p

Correlation between IP-10 detected in plasma and DPS (A), and between IP-10 detected in plasma and INF-γ detected in plasma (B).

<p>A total of 25 healthy donors were compared. Nil, CMV-antigen and mitogen samples were pooled, rendering a total of 75 data-points per graph (Spearman).</p

Agreement between IP-10 (A) and IFN-γ (B) detected in plasma and DPS samples.

<p>IP-10 and IFN-γ signals were detected in samples from 18 Quantiferon-TB positive donors; nil, antigen and mitogen samples were corrected for the dilution factor in plasma. Samples were pooled rendering a total of 54 data-points per graph. DPS concentrations were analyzed as ng/2 discs for IP-10 and IU/2 discs for IFN-γ signals (DPS) and log transformed to facilitate comparison between high (plasma) and low DPS. Each sample is represented on the graph as the average of the two measurements against the difference. The limits of agreement are specified as the average difference (bias) ±1.96 standard deviation of the difference.</p

IP-10 responses in DBS compared to DPS.

<p>QFT-CMV test stimulated blood from 8 healthy individuals, 5 CMV responders, were used to compare IP-10 signals in DBS and DPS samples. Nil antigen and mitogen samples pooled (n = 24). <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0039228#pone-0039228-g004" target="_blank">Figure 4A</a>. Correlation analysis, (p<0.0001, Spearman); <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0039228#pone-0039228-g004" target="_blank">Figure 4B</a> Bland-Altman plot of the same data. Each sample is represented on the graph as the average of the two measurements against the difference. The limits of agreement are specified as the average difference (bias, −0.8 pg/ml) ±1.96 standard deviation of the difference, (71 pg/ml).</p