Wilber J, Urdea M, Detmer J, Kolberg J, Zanki S, Todd J; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12; 10: 43 (abstract no. 145B).
Chiron Corporation, Emeryville, CA.
OBJECTIVE: To measure HIV-1 RNA in a large number of plasma specimens precisely, accurately, and rapidly in order to monitor HIV therapy and to determine whether quantitation is affected by differences in HIV-1 subtype. METHODS: HIV-1 RNA levels in plasma were measured using a solid phase nucleic acid hybridization assay (Quantiplex HIV-RNA) based on bDNA signal amplification technology. In vitro RNA transcripts of the pol region of HIV-1 subtypes A-E, purified and quantified by OD 260, phosphate analysis, and hyperchromicity, 148 specimens from patients who had > 400 CD4/microliters, and longitudinal samples from patients on therapy were quantified using the bDNA assay. A lower clinical cutoff was evaluated. RESULTS: All 5 distinct genetic subtypes quantified within a factor of 1.5. One operator could complete testing of 42 specimens in duplicate in less than 24 hr. The new clinical cutoff increased the number of specimens detectable by this assay in patients > 400 CD4 by > 20% (levels shown in Fig). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The bDNA assay is a simple, reproducible, and accurate method for measuring HIV-1 RNA regardless of subtype that may be useful in monitoring changes in RNA level during the course of disease and during antiviral therapy. HIV-1 RNA levels vary widely in patients with high CD4 levels, suggesting that stratification of treatment could be based on viral load rather than CD4 level. TABULAR DATA, SEE ABSTRACT VOLUME.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Branched DNA Signal Amplification Assay
- DNA
- Genes, pol
- HIV
- HIV Core Protein p24
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- HIV-1
- Humans
- In Vitro
- Nucleic Acid Hybridization
- RNA
- RNA, Viral
- Viral Load
- genetics
- immunology
Other ID:
UI: 102209523
From Meeting Abstracts