title: Comparison between a nucleic acid sequence-based amplification and branched DNA test for quantifying HIV RNA load in blood plasma.
abstract: HIV RNA was quantified in blood plasma from 209 patients and in control specimen comparing the NucliSens HIV-1 QT test (Organon Teknika), which is based on the nucleic acid sequence amplification procedure, and the Quantiplex 3.0 test (Bayer), which uses hybridization signal enhancement by branched DNA (bDNA) probes. A highly significant correlation (P=0.01) was found between the two methods with 88% of the samples showing similar results. In cases of discrepant findings, higher virus load was observed with either test (14xNASBA>bDNA; 12xbNDA>NASBA). Differences could neither be related to clinical features nor to divergent virus subtypes. Standard preparations containing 35000 and 222000 copies were quantified with intra-assay coefficients of variation of <20% using both methods. A preparation of 192 copies was measured with lower precision by both tests, yet was detected more reliably by the bDNA method.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, University Hospital Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353, Berlin, Germany. christoph.berndt@charite.de
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berndt
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019562:Viral Load / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic