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Quantification of HIV-RNA from dried blood spots using the Siemens VERSANT® HIV-1 RNA (kPCR) assay.
- Source :
-
Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (JAC) . Dec2011, Vol. 66 Issue 12, p2823-2826. 4p. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Objectives Simplified methods for virological monitoring in resource-limited settings are increasingly needed. We evaluated the performance of the VERSANT® HIV-1 RNA (kPCR) assay for the determination of HIV-1 viral load from dried blood spots (DBS). Assay sensitivity and correlation with plasma quantification values were assessed. Methods A total of 98 DBS were prepared from fresh blood samples of HIV-infected patients. DBS were kept at room temperature for 6 weeks or 7 months before processing while the corresponding plasma samples were stored at −80°C. DBS were first pre-treated in a special DBS buffer. The DBS extracts and the plasma samples were then purified and amplified using the VERSANT assay reagents. Results In the first series of tests, performed after 6 weeks of storage, there was good correlation between quantification of viral load in plasma and in DBS (r = 0.95, P < 0.001). The detection rate in DBS was 100% when plasma levels were >1000 copies/mL. The sensitivity and specificity of the DBS assay were 88.2% [95% confidence interval (CI) 79.4–93.6] and 69.2% (95% CI 42.0–87.4), respectively. Using the 5000 copies/mL threshold (defining virological failure in resource-limited settings), both positive and negative predictive values were high (95.2% and 87.5%, respectively). After 7 months of storage there was a modest decrease in the detection rate and less significant correlations for samples with HIV-RNA <5000 copies/mL. Conclusions Quantification of HIV-RNA from DBS by the VERSANT automated sample preparation and detection method can be used to diagnose virological failure in HIV-positive patients. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Subjects :
- *VIROLOGY
*VIRAL load
*POLYMERASE chain reaction
*HIV
*HIV-positive persons
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03057453
- Volume :
- 66
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (JAC)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 67287657
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkr383