Comparative analysis of HIV-1 viral load assays on subtype quantification: Bayer Versant HIV-1 RNA 3.0 versus Roche Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor version 1.5.
Quantification of HIV-1 subtypes is essential for appropriate clinical management. Whereas viral load assays were initially developed to accurately quantify subtype B, the recent worldwide spread of non-B subtypes and the introduction of treatment programs in regions with non-B subtypes have prompted adaptations of these assays. The Bayer Versant HIV-1 RNA 3.0 Assay (branched DNA [bDNA] 3.0) and the Roche Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor version 1.5 (Amplicor 1.5) assays are reported to quantify all subtypes in group M; however, evaluation of performance characteristics remains limited. In this study, we evaluated the accuracy and reliability of bDNA 3.0 and Amplicor 1.5 on multiple serially diluted viral isolates from HIV-1 group M, subtypes A through F. Testing was conducted on both assay systems in two independent laboratories. Comparative pansubtype quantification from regression analysis showed that quantification by bDNA 3.0 was approximately 0.3 log-fold lower than that by Amplicor 1.5. Comparative pansubtype accuracy analysis showed data points more closely distributed about their respective regression lines and thus showing greater reliability by bDNA 3.0 than by Amplicor 1.5.
Elbeik
Tarek
T
Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California at San Francisco and Clinical Laboratories at San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California 94110, USA. elbeik@itsa.ucsf.edu
Alvord
W Gregory
WG
Trichavaroj
Rapee
R
de Souza
Mark
M
Dewar
Robin
R
Brown
Arthur
A
Chernoff
David
D
Michael
Nelson L
NL
Nassos
Patricia
P
Hadley
Keith
K
Ng
Valerie L
VL
D021121:Branched DNA Signal Amplification Assay; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019562:Viral Load
D012367:RNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic