title: Comparative evaluation of NASBA HIV-1 RNA QT, AMPLICOR-HIV monitor, and QUANTIPLEX HIV RNA assay, three methods for quantification of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA in plasma.
abstract: Three commercial assays for quantifying plasma human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA were evaluated. The assays differed in their sample volumes, the means of preparing samples, and methods of amplification and detection. Plasma samples were obtained from 36 HIV-1-infected patients representing all stages of HIV-1 infection and were analyzed as coded specimens. Measurement of HIV-1 RNA baseline levels revealed no significant difference in sensitivity between the three assays. The assays were also applied to the quantitation of HIV-1 RNA levels in the plasma of patients who were changing their antiretroviral therapy. The changes measured in HIV-1 RNA levels in plasma in response to therapy were comparable by the three assays. No close correlation was found between the amount of HIV-1 RNA and the CD4 T-cell count; HIV-1 RNA assays were more sensitive than p24 antigen assays as an indicator of plasma viremia. Overall, the study demonstrates that all three quantitative assays for HIV-1 RNA can be used to measure the HIV-1 RNA copy number representing the HIV-1 viremia status in patients with HIV-1 infection. Since this copy number is likely to be useful in monitoring the effectiveness of antiviral therapy, these quantitative assays for HIV-1 RNA are ready to be built into clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Aids Referentielaboratorium, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Revets
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marissens
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Wit
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lacor
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Clumeck
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lauwers
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zissis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014766:Viremia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D012367:RNA, Viral