Detection of HIV-1 RNA in plasma by isothermal amplification (NASBA) irrespective of the stage of HIV-1 infection.
Using an experimental assay for isothermal amplification of HIV RNA in plasma (NASBA, Organon Teknika, Boxtel, The Netherlands), 70 samples from 59 HIV-1-infected persons and 29 samples from 28 uninfected volunteer blood donors were tested for the presence of HIV-1 RNA. The HIV-1-positive plasma samples were drawn from patients at various stages of infection: two samples from persons with signs of acute HIV infection (CDC stage I); 29 samples from 25 symptom-free persons (CDC stage II) and 39 samples from 32 persons with AIDS-related symptoms (CDC stage IV). All samples from HIV-1-infected persons had HIV-1 RNA, irrespective of the stage of infection (100% sensitivity). Testing the donor samples in duplicate, initially 54/58 samples (93%) tested negative for HIV-1 RNA. Repeated testing of the 4 samples with inconsistent test results showed all samples to be negative (specificity 100%). Detection of HIV-1 RNA in plasma by isothermal amplification (NASBA) promises to be a valuable alternative to the detection of HIV-1 RNA or DNA by the polymerase chain reaction.
Zaaijer
H L
HL
Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (CLB), Amsterdam.
Kok
W
W
ten Veen
J H
JH
Reesink
H W
HW
Foolen
H
H
Winkel
I N
IN
Huisman
J G
JG
Cuypers
H T
HT
Kievits
T
T
Lelie
P N
PN
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017931:DNA Primers; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D017931:DNA Primers; D012367:RNA, Viral