title: Quantitation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 DNA and RNA by a novel internally controlled PCR assay.
abstract: A novel internally controlled PCR (ICPCR) assay was developed to accurately quantitate human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) DNA and RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma. The ICPCR assay was sensitive and reproducible within a linear range of amplification of 10(0) to 10(3) copies for HIV-1 DNA and 10(1) to 10(4) copies for HIV-1 RNA. The assay detected HIV-1 RNA in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from all HIV-1 subjects regardless of disease stage. ICPCR was compared with a branched-DNA signal amplification assay for subjects beginning antiretroviral therapy. The reductions in plasma HIV-1 RNA in response to therapy were comparable with the two assays. The ICPCR assay should be useful in monitoring HIV-1 RNA levels both in natural history studies and in clinical trials of antiretroviral agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cottrill
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rinaldo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kingsley
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolinsky
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mellors
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D015750:Genes, gag; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014766:Viremia / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral