Molecular-based methods for quantifying HIV viral load.
Viral load quantitation has become the major prognostic marker for disease prognosis and outcome of antiretroviral therapy in the treatment of HIV-infected individuals. The three major methodologies for viral load quantitation: the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR; Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor Test, Roche Diagnostic Systems, Pleasanton, CA), the nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA; NucliSens HIV-1 QT Test, Organon Teknika, Bostel, The Netherlands); and a signal amplification methodology termed branchedchain DNA (bDNA) technique (Quantiplex HIV-1 RNA test, Bayer Diagnostics, Emeryville, CA) are briefly reviewed here.
Peter
James B
JB
Specialty Laboratories Inc., Santa Monica, California 90403, USA.
Sevall
J Sanders
JS
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D021121:Branched DNA Signal Amplification Assay / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011379:Prognosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019562:Viral Load / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards
D015415:Biomarkers; D012367:RNA, Viral