title: Evaluation of the clinical sensitivities of three viral load assays with plasma samples from a pediatric population predominantly infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 subtype G and BG recombinant forms.
abstract: The viral load assays AMPLICOR HIV-1 Monitor Test 1.5, Nuclisens HIV-1 QT, and Quantiplex HIV RNA 3.0 (bDNA) were evaluated for their abilities to quantify human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA in 64 plasma samples from 21 children infected in Portugal. The children were infected with HIV-1 subtypes A1, B, F1, G, and BG recombinant virus. AMPLICOR v1.5 and Quantiplex v3.0 detected all samples, and there was a good correlation of results between the two kits. Thirty-eight specimens containing HIV-1 subtype B, G, or recombinant BG, could not be detected by Nuclisens HIV-1 QT. We also evaluated the new Retina HIV-1 assay on 21 samples that were HIV-1 positive; Retina HIV-1 failed to detect 5 of 11 subtype G specimens. AMPLICOR v1.5 and Quantiplex v3.0 assays may be used for HIV-1 RNA quantification in Portugal, whereas an improvement in sensitivity for subtype G and recombinant BG is required for Nuclisens HIV-1 QT and Retina HIV-1.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Patogénese Molecular, Faculdade de Farmácia de Lisboa, Hospital de Santa Maria de Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rute
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Inês
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bártolo
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: Lino
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosado
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lourenço
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taveira
mesh_terms: D021121:Branched DNA Signal Amplification Assay; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic