Quantitation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA in cell-free cervicovaginal secretions: comparison of reverse transcription-PCR amplification (AMPLICOR HIV-A MONITOR 1.5) with enhanced-sensitivity branched-DNA assay (Quantiplex 3.0).
Two commercially available hypersensitive assays for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA quantitation, AMPLICOR HIV-1 Monitor Test 1.5 and Quantiplex HIV RNA 3.0, were compared to detect and quantify HIV-1 RNA in the cell-free fraction of cervicovaginal secretions collected by vaginal washing. Three panel specimens were used: pooled cervicovaginal secretions spiked with HIV-1 subtype A or HIV-1 subtype B and cervicovaginal lavages from HIV-positive and HIV-negative women. Compared to the AMPLICOR HIV-1 Monitor Test 1.5 assay, the Quantiplex HIV-1 3.0 assay yielded higher estimates of HIV-1 RNA concentrations in several tested samples spiked with HIV-1 RNA subtype A, as well as subtype B, particularly samples containing low amounts of HIV-1 RNA. The sensitivity and specificity of the AMPLICOR HIV-1 Monitor Test 1.5 assay were 93 and 100%, respectively; the sensitivity and specificity of the Quantiplex HIV RNA 3.0 assay were 97 and 50%, respectively. In conclusion, in quantifying HIV-1 RNA in cervicovaginal secretions, the Quantiplex HIV RNA 3.0 may lack specificity, and the AMPLICOR HIV-1 Monitor Test 1.5 assay, although highly specific, may lack sensitivity.
Si-Mohamed
A
A
Laboratoire de Virologie, Service de Microbiologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75 908 Paris Cedex 15, France. ali.simohamed@egp.ap-hop-paris.fr
Andreoletti
L
L
Colombet
I
I
Carreno
M P
MP
Lopez
G
G
Chatelier
G
G
Kazatchkine
M D
MD
Belec
L
L
D021121:Branched DNA Signal Amplification Assay / Q000379:methods*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load
D012367:RNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic