Comparative assessment of quantitative HIV viraemia assays.
OBJECTIVE
To compare two published methods for determining plasma viraemia in HIV-seropositive patients, with reference to a cellular viraemia assay.


METHODS
Three patient groups were defined according to CD4 cell count: group I, less than 200 x 10(6)/l (23 patients); group II, 200-500 x 10(6)/l (18 patients); and group III, greater than 500 x 10(6)/l (13 patients).


METHODS
The two reported methodologies were applied to all fresh samples, simultaneously and on the same day.


RESULTS
The two techniques did not differ significantly in the detection of plasma viraemia: 82.3% of group I patients and 55% of group II patients were positive, while all group III patients were negative. Cellular viraemia was positive for 96% of the overall population.


CONCLUSIONS
These results, obtained in a network of seven French laboratories involved in clinical trials, confirm that both plasma viraemia and cellular viraemia are useful virological markers.
Virology Laboratory Hôpital Necker, Paris, France.
C
C
Rouzioux
J
J
Puel
H
H
Agut
F
F
Brun-Vézinet
F
F
Ferchal
C
C
Tamalet
P
P
Descamps
H
H
Fleury
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count