Quantitation of HIV-1 RNA viral load using nucleic acid sequence based amplification methodology and comparison with other surrogate markers for disease progression.
In this study, HIV-1 viral blood quantitation determined by Nucleic Acid Sequence Based Amplification (NASBA) was compared with other surrogate disease progression markers (antigen p24, CD4/CD8 cell counts and beta-2 microglobulin) in 540 patients followed up at São Paulo, SP, Brazil. HIV-1 RNA detection was statistically associated with the presence of antigen p24, but the viral RNA was also detected in 68% of the antigen p24 negative samples, confirming that NASBA is much more sensitive than the determination of antigen p24. Regarding other surrogate markers, no statistically significant association with the detection of viral RNA was found. The reproducibility of this viral load assay was assessed by 14 runs of the same sample, using different reagents batches. Viral load values in this sample ranged from 5.83 to 6.27 log (CV = 36%), less than the range (0.5 log) established to the determination of significant viral load changes.
Bioquímico Jardim Paulista, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
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R
Sitnik
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JR
Pinho
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000097:blood; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019562:Viral Load / Q000379:methods*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D012367:RNA, Viral; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin