Comparison of an assay using signal amplification of the heat-dissociated p24 antigen with the Roche Monitor human immunodeficiency virus RNA assay.
We compared an assay using signal amplification of a heat-dissociated p24 antigen (HDAg) with the Roche Monitor human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA assay. The two assays gave comparable results when 130 specimens from 130 patients were tested (r = 0.60, P < 0.0001). The HDAg assay was almost as sensitive (85%) as the Roche HIV RNA kit (95%), just as specific (25 negative results from 25 HIV seronegative volunteers [100%]), less variable (mean log standard deviation of 0.07 compared to 0.11 when eight specimens were tested three or four times), and less expensive (reagent and labor costs, $8 versus $75). The assay appeared to be useful for monitoring established patients (n = 17) and identifying seroconverters (n = 4). HIV subtypes A to F were all recognized. This assay should be useful for monitoring patients in resource-poor countries and for monitoring vaccine recipients.
Pascual
Alvaro
A
Department of Microbiology, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain.
Cachafeiro
Ada
A
Funk
Michele L
ML
Fiscus
Susan A
SA
D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D012367:RNA, Viral