Quantification of HIV-1 group M (subtypes A-G) and group O by the LCx HIV RNA quantitative assay.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genetic diversity presents a challenge to nucleic acid-based assays with regard to sensitivity of detection and accuracy of quantification. The Abbott LCx HIV RNA Quantitative assay (LCx(R) HIV assay), a competitive RT-PCR targeting the pol integrase region, was evaluated using a panel of 297 HIV-1 seropositive plasma samples from Cameroon, Uganda, Brazil, Thailand, Spain, Argentina and South Africa. The panel included group M subtypes A-G, mosaics, and group O based on sequence analysis of gag p24, pol integrase, and env gp41. The LCx HIV assay quantified 290 (97.6%) of the samples, including all the group O samples tested. In comparison, the Roche AMPLICOR HIV-1 MONITOR test versions 1.0 and 1.5 quantified 67.3 and 94.6% of the samples, respectively. No group O specimens were quantified by either version of AMPLICOR HIV-1 MONITOR. Seven specimens were below the detectable limits of all the three assays. The LCx HIV assay had fewer nucleotide mismatches at primer/probe binding sites as compared with both AMPLICOR HIV-1 MONITOR tests. The high degree of nucleotide conservation within the pol target region enables the LCx HIV assay to efficiently quantify the HIV-1 subtypes A-G and the most genetically diverse HIV-1, group O.
Swanson
P
P
AIDS Research and Retrovirus Discovery, Abbott Laboratories, D-9NG, Bldg. AP20, 100 Abbott Park Road, Abbott Park, IL 60064-6015, USA.
Harris
B J
BJ
Holzmayer
V
V
Devare
S G
SG
Schochetman
G
G
Hackett
J
J
D005814:Genes, Viral; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019562:Viral Load
D012367:RNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic