title: Molecular-based laboratory testing and monitoring for human immunodeficiency virus infections.
abstract: Applications of laboratory testing for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection have made significant impact on clinical care of HIV-infected patients globally. As these technologies continue to evolve and new technologies emerge, unique and highly sensitive nucleic acid-based testing methods will offer more and better means for us to guide physicians in anti-retroviral treatment strategies and clinical management of HIV infected patients. In this review we discuss a variety of current molecular-based methods that are available for HIV testing including diagnosis, monitoring disease progression, and detection of drug resistance to anti-retroviral therapy. Newer approaches that could be used in future HIV testing are also introduced.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Immunology Laboratory, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21201-1192, USA.
authors.forename: Niel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Constantine
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D018450:Disease Progression; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D019562:Viral Load